RonaldODowd

A member since December 27, 2007 22:13

Message

Comment History

Anxiety about Canada Pension Plan/Quebec Pension Plan (Nanos Policy Options Poll) (2010-03-01)

• What Worry About The CPP... Come on folks, chill. Don't be a bunch of nervous Nellies as Chrétien used to say. The CPP is in as good a shape as your avera...
• Dear Industry Canada, I'm still waiting for a reply to my letter, sent to the Minister's Office. An update in short order might be a good idea. Thanks. ...
• Zachary, At least now we know who is the only guy in Canada who hasn't (yet?) seen the light. Here's a friendly piece of advice: in your case, please keep c...
• Zachary, I'm sure you'll agree with me that an acknowledgment of the problem which I've raised is hardly too much to ask for in the way of a response. Must ...
• It's Called Leadership. Quite evidently, in light of yesterday's events in Ottawa, this concept has escaped the upper ranks of both the Liberal and New De...
• Bernie, Thanks for your input. Your take on things is very interesting. But respectfully, I have to disagree with your assessment of the New Democrats. Ja...
• Zachary, I agree with you that to win leadership, you have to show 'em what you're made of and more importantly, where you want to take 'em...the Michael ...
• Zachary, I, too wish Jack only the best but to my mind, and I could be wrong, there is really no problem here: if Jack has to take a pass in the next camp...
• Zachary, I'm all for subtle niceties on an ordinary government bill -- but to choose to token vote against the budget is nothing short of sheer folly. It ...
• Bernie, Thanks for setting me straight. I think politicians badly need to lead but like you, I don't think Canadians have to resort to being sheep either.
• Zachary, I agree that a coronation is not the way to go. What I was suggesting was merely an exercise to temporaily fill the leadership void should Jack b...
• Zachary, Perhaps the same thing will happen again when we get to the fall!
• Time To Outflank The Flanker! This Prime Minister is prouder than a peacock -- he believes that he has finally found containment on the Afghan detainee is...
• Zachary, Why the hell not! But to do so, I have to introduce a point first: Point O) - Do you really expect me to believe that the master tactician would h...
• Prominent Female Symbols: Opaque In Ottawa Under Harper. O Canada, our home and native land...ah forget it, that's one just didn't do the trick. What to do ...
• Zachary, Moving straight to Point 3) - I'm not so hopelessly partisan that I can't speak tactically for the "enemy": time to get real here -- of course, thi...
• Zachary, You don't seem to think that pushing this will have any legs. I beg to differ. I guess we'll both have to wait and see how it plays out with Canadi...
• Zachary, We all go somewhat bonkers when we have serious personal problems. That's my position on it, as you know. This was not a case of ministerial ...
• Zachary, Persichilli misses the point. It's FAR from a given that we would lose. Remember, if we are consistently five or less points behind, we can more ...
• Donald, This Prime Minister wants a full public inquiry. Why? Because he thinks back to a case in point -- remember when Mulroney was going to be there "w...
• Oops, that should read collateral. Sorry.
• Zachary, As a FYI, I'm for changes via a parliamentary committee (preferably Heritage) but not in favour of going back to archaic wording.
• Donald, First, let me get it immediately on the record that Chrétien was dead wrong to shut down the Somalia Inquiry. Sure, the regiment was disbanded but...
• Zachary, Ain't politics a gas sometimes! Better than an episode of the late As the World Turns...
• Zachary, You must never say never. But agreed, it's highly unlikely as the chess pieces presently stand on the board.
• Donald, 1) If ministerial responsibility is applicable definitely but as we both know in practice, that seldom happens. But a young man died so it should ...
• Agreed. No upside for Michael but less downside.
• Zachary, I don't know if it will play out that way: remember that Dr. Johnston was given the mandate to determine the terms of reference re: the Mulroney ...
• Zachary, The interesting point for this government will be the following: this Prime Minister and Defence Minister saw that the previous Liberal governmen...
• Zachary, One can never be ENTIRELY sure of what happened on one's own watch. There are simply too many actors, too many variables. Screwups happen -- even...
• Zachary, Perfect questions for a full public inquiry. My sense of it based on intuition only is that one government would never give a heads up to an inco...
• Zachary, Thanks. As discussed previously, I think we both agree that legitimate (and there's the rub!) national security considerations always trump parli...
• Afghan Detainees: Expect The Public Inquiry Announcement Within Days. Quite frankly, I'm shocked to see how quickly this situation is spiraling out of contr...
• As Proud As Can Be! I have to say that I was mightily impressed as I watched coverage of the Governor General's visit to Haiti. The GG put on a brave fron...
• Zachary, A tactical response if ever I read one! One hell of a potentially interesting deflection should the PM pick it up.
• Zachary, Respectfully, IMHO, it's more of a quicksand ballet. Remember, Harper got in the first time with 36%. If I was in the Prime Minister's shoes, the...
• Zachary, A tactical suggestion of my own: perhaps she can be persuaded to sit as a Conservative senator!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Zachary, Actually, no. Here's the way I would push the Liberal strategy: take it as a given that the Martin and Chrétien governments will take a hit (espe...
• Zachary, You have a fine mind, one that is adept at grasping the obvious. Better stop here.
• Zachary, Agree with you that only two parties can form government. Once that premise is taken care of, do we both agree that they can't both continue to d...
• Zachary, This thing could break either way -- in favour of the opposition or the government. That's what will keep it exciting but I have to admit that yo...
• Not you! Have a nice lunch, I know I will.

Canadians believe PMO has too much power, House of Commons not enough power (Nanos Poll Completed February 8) (2010-02-24)

• Hi Tom, Just call me a "mini" Douglas (guts personified) Harkness (one of my political heroes)! George Hees and Pierre Sévigny are perfect examples of how t...
• Tom, With the deepest respect for the views outlined in your excellent post, I cannot agree with your position on the Supreme Court of Canada. Unfortunately...
• Zachary, Come on. Do you actually believe that Canadians will use crime issues as their litmus test in determining which party to support in the next electi...
• Donald, Any good general knows what to do: you take the war to the enemy and you don't particularly care what you have to do to win it. It's not important h...
• Zachary, I haven't changed since May. I was for an election in May and am even more in favour now. But I don't get to decide. I like the upcoming political ...
• Zachary, Does it not strike you as passing strange that the leader of the party that happens to form Canada's present government commands only the support o...
• Zachary, Resorting to partisan insults...check my post again. You won't find any smears there. A helpful lesson for you. No need to thank me.
• Hollinm, Agreed. God knows I'm living proof that this Prime Minister is many things, but first a democrat.
• Donald, Please don't pretend that General Harper is not of the same mind as Generals Ignatieff, Layton, Duceppe or May. This isn't tiddlywinks. You know i...
• Hollinm, All opposition leaders are strongly in favour of virtue. All Prime Ministers can't wait to get down and dirty and do the deed. Once they're in, the...
• Zachary, Please tell you Dad that that script has been used before. And it wasn't that effective the first time. You don't have to like how I call them. Di...
• Tom, Well, sometimes Charest goes overboard (as in his recent remarks) but at least he knows how to kick federal ass when it becomes both obvious and NECESS...
• Donald, I will agree with you on Harper IF he manages to pull off at least one majority. Until then, forget it. Governance is, in and of itself neither bad...
• Tom, Again, can't agree. Please answer this one for me: are you suggesting (and perhaps you are not) that when the SCC declares a statute ultra vires (uncon...
• Zachary, Do I think Charest will be forced to soften to California standards? Yes I do. Do I expect the U.S. and Canadian governments to adopt the Californi...
• Zachary, Strange that you would consider it a pissing contest. I consider it legitimate reasonably civil debate. But if you're not up for it, that's fine. S...
• They Remembered To Pass Harper The ASA. Nice to see the Prime Minister in Vancouver again encouraging our athletes...from what I can tell, there is no major...
• Zachary, In essence, what you are suggesting is that given the polling map at the moment, momentum lies with the Conservatives going into the next campaign....
• Zachary, Nice line!
• Zachary, That's more than fair. With present polling and momentum, I don't see it in the cards as the situation now stands in February.
• Zachary, I find that link rather tenuous but all I can say to Westerners is, whatever floats your boat. We in Quebec know how to play the game domestically ...
• Zachary, You misunderstand me. As a citizen, Stephen Harper is MY Prime Minister having formed MY Canadian federal government. HE IS the head of government,...
• Zachary, This would be my advice to the Prime Minister: whenever we have an election, if Harper gets in again with another minority, he becomes by default, ...
• Hollinm, Sorry for the delay in replying but I was watching the PM on CTV and WE AGREE that Canada will win tonight!!!!!!!! (I suppose there is a first time...
• Zachary, What a crock of shit! Nice try though. P.S. Just so you know, I was across the table from Bob on Thursday. You really kill me -- being able to pr...
• Donald, He loses effective control under a third minority mandate. That will be the nature of the beast. He will, for all intents and purposes, have little ...
• The Budget: Stay Tuned For "Uncle Scrooge" Government. I don't know about you but nothing warms this SOB's heart as much as the pending unraveling of the Ha...
• Zachary, How damned considerate of you. Remember Zachary, the biggest casualties are likely to be the "givens" in politics. Worth considering, don't you think?
• Zachary, Let's take this one up again after Montreal, assuming that we actually have an opportunity to get there. You know this Prime Minister. No person ca...
• Zachary, Will be signing off now. Going to plunge through a few chapters of Game Change. Enjoying it immensely (almost as much as each of us sticking it to ...
• Zachary, We both know it was a trade off to get the provinces to swallow the Charter. Trudeau would probably have preferred to spend a year at the dentist b...
• Zachary, For a party with "no air in [our] tires", funny that we've managed to make it fifteen (15) points past our low point!
• Zachary, The authors are John Heilemann and Mark Halperin and it's an absolute must for any self-respecting U.S. political junkie.
• Zachary, So now we are adding a little red herring to those red mittens...look, let's speak plainly -- the court is not there to decide in the place of Cana...
• Tom, But does not the SCC's interpretation amount to some form of judicial activism? I think so, but I could be wrong.
• Zachary, Will you at least agree that it's fair to speculate that post-Montreal, once part of the future platform is in place, that that will have some posi...
• Zachary, Judicial activism must be done responsibly. It should be an exceptional measure dealing with a pressing or urgent national concern. At least, that ...
• Zachary, And when Parliament errs in law and fails to address it in a timely manner?
• Zachary, Good thing Stockwell wasn't on the Niagara River at the time or it might likely have turned out a hell of a lot worse. (I just couldn't resist that...
• Tom, I would suggest that we have no abortion law in Canada precisely because of the Supreme Court's intervention. Without it...? To my mind, that was an ac...
• Bernie, I will be about as candid as possible with you. I want as big a hook as possible to get at the Harper government. I don't care where I find it. If i...
• Zachary, If you guys are so fired up about Liberal-appointed judges, please be my guest and dissolve Parliament. Run on it as part of your law and order pro...
• Zachary, You are wrong there. If the Pink Poka Dot Party was the government and deliberately abdicating its responsibilities on important national priorites...
• Zachary, Agree on rigorous costing and also that no party can afford to go hog wild. Present economic realities will bite any party in the ass that foolishl...
• Zachary, No doubt the head of state's next rep is in complete agreement with you. (I couldn't resist that one either.)
• Hollinm, As a former journalist, I can say that I've never yet met a journalist incapable of thinking. What does that mean? It means no one who is even mild...
• Zachary, I don't know Zachary. I could live with term limits but you know how the government feels about subsidies. I certainly don't want justices trolling...
• Zachary, NOPE. Martin gets to wear it but so does Harper post 2006. You may not have noticed but four years have gone by without him being repatriated to Ca...
• Zachary, Right now, this PM pulls the string and that's fine by me. He leads the government and has a perfect right to fill the vacancies. Ditto for Senate ...
• Come on, please. The court did not pronounce itself on repatriation. It merely stated that Khadr's Charter rights were violated and asked the government to t...
• Zachary, How did I know ahead of time that you would widely skate around this one (how's that for an Olympic metaphor)??!! Enjoy the game. This may be the ...
• Zachary, Let me know after the game and my subsequent shopping trip for groceries and I'll be pleased to oblige. Later.
• Hollinm, With respect, that is too wide a generalization. When the politicians and those of us who work to advance their respective causes get down in the...
• Zachary, No doubt the OLO will have more to say on this shortly.
• Yes Zachary, from what I've been told, your impression appears to be bang on. But that's as far as I can go at this time.
• Zachary, The one who should not be named is she. There is no he. The joke relates to the he but otherwise, he is not involved. Is that OK?
• Hollinm, On Helena, my view is compassion has to be the order of the day. We've all had difficult moments in our own personal lives and that should be rem...
• Hollinm, No offense taken. I hate crap like that whether it favours my party, the Conservatives or any other party. Only an idiot would say x votes y beca...
• Donald, Do you really have to be at the game or even watch it on television to clearly establish your bona fides as a red-blooded Canadian? I think Conser...
• Donald, All things considered, our federal parties will be waiting for the next batch of polls with baited breath -- and in this case, I would hardly call...
• Zachary, You sure seem to be busy being both judge and jury. But remember that you're pretty much wasting your time: this government won't agree to repatria...
• Zachary, Too bad we aren't talking about Scots Law: if there was ever a case of "not proved", this is it... From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "...

Canadians split on impression of political groups on Facebook; many uncertain (Nanos Poll Completed February 8) (2010-02-18)

• Branchez-vous, maudits électeurs. That just about sums up my feelings. What the hell is going on? When you look at Ekos and see for the past month and a h...
• Zachary, Interesting breakdown. Thanks. I will go out on a limb and venture a guess that we're in for a protracted period of good old fashioned World War ...
• Quebec Francophones: Still Uncertain As To Which Way To Go. Former Quebec Premier Lucien Bouchard is widely known for a number of things -- some more flatte...
• Consertative Supporter, I'll say one thing for you: you're still a pistol! We both know that French is the eighth language in Vancouver. That being said, we...
• Novadog, Are you with me? I happen to love and respect the Americans. I just don't care to become one of them. When the United States is at its finest, no o...
• Consertative Supporter, Remember, I live where Canadian history was decided. The English (as they then were) won on the Plains of Abraham but lost TWICE to ...
• Consertative Supporter, You would deny this Prime Minister, the guy who got the West "in" the beginnings of his Triple-E-Senate? Harper is intent on embark...
• Consertative Supporter, If you're to apply that standard to the Senate, you also have to apply it to the House of Commons -- not to mention the BC and other...
• Consertative Supporter, We sure agree on Latin America. I'm looking at the new ETF but I haven't bought so far. My best stock is Tag Oil: 500% profit, so...

Nanos Leadership Index: Harper still strong (Nanos Poll Completed February 8th, 2010) (2010-02-15)

• dgkfghlgjkgla, Wow! What a handle. Remember, the leadership index in the final analysis is meaningless. Just think back to 2006 when the Conservatives wer...
• Zachary Smith, I think none of the leaders is sufficiently trusted to win an election under this matrix. I could be wrong but I would also suggest that Jo...
• "Going" Conservative... To pull, or not to pull, that is the Conservative question! I'll bet you dollars to donuts that the next two polls will be instrum...
• Zachary Smith, Now there's the rub in being the opposition: by necessity, you have to come up with a platform -- you can start slowly and cost; or you can...
• Zachary Smith, Once an olive branch is proffered, it's often in one's own interest to take hold of it. This government sees things differently. It will be...
• I would remind readers that we remain in a two-year cycle whose main theme continues to be "Making Parliament Work" -- that was the message delivered by the ...
• Zachary, With respect, I admire your suggestions but the PMO is control-freak central. That is not this Prime Minister's fault alone. It goes all the way ba...
• Zachary, Agreed that if the Environics poll is a "one-only", we are indeed in the middle of a political stalemate. I suspect that is not the case but we wil...
• Hollinm, Why am I not surprised to hear that your ads are ready to go. Conservatives are many things -- including always organized for battle! You give me...
• Hollinm, No, amending the constitution is nothing but a can of worms. Besides, we have 13 solitudes in Canada -- not just 2...we have to integrate Quebec bu...
• Hollinm, Nice to meet the only and last person in Canada who happens to think that global warming science is a hoax. You don't know how I hope this Prime Mi...
• Zachary, It has been my experience that people looking for an excuse somehow always manage to find one. Others do just as well finding a pretext...
• Zachary, Yes, one of us is!
• If you aren't already, you would make a fine strategist. You have a very impressive logical mind.
• Hollinm, That was supposed to be a tennis analogy. Oops, as I turn shades of red!
• Hollinm, I have to disagree. In the final analysis, it is rather immaterial what both parties want. What is relevant is what Canadians want -- how far are...
• Hollinm, That's the nice thing about a coin toss -- it either goes for you or against you...nothing like a good 50-50 chance. (The budget had better make ...
• Hollinm, I will let Jean Chrétien speak for himself. But I do find your last paragraph interesting.
• Hollinm, I already knew that as a FORMER Conservative. As a Red Tory, it was either laugh or cry...
• Hollinm, On one thing we agree: cap and trade is as dead as those golden door knobs...Obama does not have the political clout needed to get it through Con...
• Hollinm, This Prime Minister has never met a risk he didn't like -- or take. For my part, I always suspected Liberals and our non-partisans would not m...
• But sometimes Zachary, the explanation just doesn't wash!!
• Exactly.
• Zachary, Sometimes in politics, what is left unsaid is immensely more interesting that what is put on the page...
• Hollinm, Too bad they don't give an Oscar for dramatic license. You're the winner hands down...but I have to admit that it did get a laugh out of me. (Nic...
• Hollinm, That's always been your trouble. You're much too considerate!
• Please Zachary, I'm just a simple strategist. I'm saying "uncle" right now!
• Zachary, Two things immediately come to mind: 1. Sometimes, albeit rarely, a small one morphs into a big one; 2. On other occasions, the internal dy...
• Canadian Press-Harris/Decima. CPC: 32% LPC: 30% NDP: 16% GP: 10% BQ: 41% in Quebec.
• Sorry, too much work to search for it. Will try later.
• Zachary, Thanks. The PDF link should appear on the Harris/Decima site but probably only tomorrow...
• Zachary, Much obliged!

Nanos National Poll - Canadians embrace Olympic peace (2010-02-11)

• Who Is The New Bridesmaid? We are living in "the moment" which will be crucial to determining who the next bridesmaid will be in federal politics. Until rec...
• TerryQ, Apparently not.
• Hollinm, Your reasoning amuses me. Don't you know by now that a driver never makes much headway on a road when the emphasis is constantly placed upon survey...
• Rough and tumblee, I'm sorry. Were you sick? Somehow you seem to have managed to miss the fact that a Conservative government has been in power these past f...
• rsharp2, Yeah, and with only that, it must mean they are really having an "off" day!
• Rough and tumblee, Nice return serve. I'll give you that.
• Hollinm, Please turn to your closest dictionary and look up the words "idle speculation"! Enough said.
• rsharp2, And all this time, I thought it was because anyone else at the helm would quickly run the good ship Conservative aground.
• Hollinm, He or she who prematurely stirs the pot ends up in it. A leadership crown inevitably passes in its own time. Stephen and Michael finally have somet...
• Rough and tumblee, You sure seem to be on a roll today. (Just like this Prime Minister. His speech today was excellent -- and no, I'm not "softening".)
• JasonC, We may not yet have a platform which is a net minus. However, that is far outweighed by this government's conduct. Incredibly, they really ARE goi...
• Bernie, Exceedingly well said.
• Prediction Time: Another Harper U-Turn Is Coming. Because I'm one hell of a nice guy, I thought I would let you all in on what I'm expecting from this Conse...
• Neveratory, Did you say charm offensive? From Harper? You can't be serious!
• rsharp2, This Prime Minister is dropping because he has finally worn out his welcome. Canadians' patience is at an end and they are no longer willing to giv...
• Tom, Your post is quite an eye opener. Thanks for sharing it with us.
• Neveratory, As the greatest Liberal fighter of our generation, you of all people will not make the mistake of underestimating our opponent. If we get carele...
• Bernie, Thanks! I could be wrong but it's my contention that from a narrow strategic perspective that this Prime Minister played Prorogation I and II brilli...
• Rough and tumblee, Yes indeed, the game is on! And personally, I'm looking forward to every glorious moment of it. It starts with accountability -- the form...
• Hollinm, You seem to be developing quite an edge...must be that poll that still has you rather rattled. Imagine what the next one will do. Steady man, steady!
• Hollinm, I'll bet. Why don't you tell us how this government is going to get its polling mojo back. Looks to me like the horse might already be out of the b...
• Neveratory, This is about as candid as it gets: they're through -- done as dinner -- unless collectively, the opposition commits the cardinal sin of punting...
• Hollinm, Just to set the record straight without going back to my ancient history. If my memory is correct, I thought Dion might win before the writ was dro...
• Hollinm, Strange coincidence that you've asked. I'm writing a post on my version of idle speculation as we exchange views.
• Why Is The NDP Dropping? You have to wonder whether a sea-change is in the offing when a party's numbers (Environics) start to head south in the troubling d...
• Hollinm, If Garth has "no credibility", does it not follow that whatever he writes should not have much effect on public opinion? In that case, what possibl...
• Tomorrow Is Valentine's Day. It would be nice if cyber attacks at least took a holiday on the Day Of Love. That's my trouble...always an idealist! But I can...
• Perfect timing to sign off and dig into Chantal Hébert's "French Kiss". See you, night all.
• Hollinm, That is the great thing about our wonderful democracy. We have a free speech right and we use it! Most people on this board respect that, even when...
• Rough and tumblee, Do you remember Nixon's "Silent Majority". Nixon deliberately tried to twist it and say they were all with him and backed his initiatives...
• Rough and tumblee, Come on. You've been around long enough and know a few things about clever repartee to realize that BOTH SIDES will do precisely that on ...
• Cyber Attacks. I want to make this point crystal clear, to quote Nixon: I'm against aggressive, over-the-top verbal assaults and have argued in the past th...
• Hollinm, We may now have our political differences: to put it in Conservative language, remember Harper's jump to Reform and Camp's jump from the Liberals t...
• And to those companies in Toronto and Montreal who have been kind enough to send me trojan horses in the past, as a means of intimidation, please stick it wh...
• Neveratory, Thanks. I'm much more careful with e-mail attachments now (even from so-called reputable firms), much to some people's frustration.
• Rough and tumblee, Please read my post again. I did not say WILL. I said IF.
• Rough and tumblee, If your comment is directed at me, the answer is no. My little computer gifts which have been received have absolutely nothing to do with...
• Rough and tumblee, Thanks. In my case, the trojan horses came via e-mail attachments. They were meant to shut me up and they were a courtesy of individual c...
• Donald Bruce Smith, I don't like it any better when my side does it. Both the government and opposition sides have done it in the past. For the most part, I...
• rough and tumblee, For my part, it's like water on a duck's back. We might as well move on.
• Donald Bruce Smith, I'm not saying this is a given by any stretch of the imagination but let us suppose for a moment that 13% is not the basement for the ...

Tories and Grits Gripped in a Tie (Completed February 4th 2010) (2010-02-08)

• Hollinm, "Campaigns are a funny thing and what we may think is the issue today will not even be mentioned in a campaign." When we get into an election, Lib...
• Hollinm, You know what they say about counting your chickens! Are you suggesting that you really have control? Are you telling us that you have the minor pa...
• Hollinm, Now that's quite an admission: that this government apparently will actually let us get to Montreal. No funny business on either the Throne Speech,...
• Hollinm, Fair enough.
• Stop equalization, You know how reasonable we are. We'll read it and then take a decision. That's what makes us a progressive party. Unlike some people, we ...
• 4Logie, The "other" and original Captain Smith said just about the same thing: look we are only a thousand yards from that nice iceberg.
• Stop equalization, Whatever happened to objective and balanced federal governments??? When are they finally going to distribute those "We Hate The Press Gal...
• Morpher, I guess someone screwed up and ran out of black extra-wide felt markers...but it wasn't all bad: at least some guy got his exercise in for the day...
• Stop equalization, Haven't you forgotten something? If memory serves, it was called Election 2004. Was it good for you? Point made, don't you agree?
• Stop equalization, Let me help: Liberal Prorogation With Majority Mandate From Voters--Good Conservative Prorogation With Minority Manda...
• Tom, From nobodies to sheep in 35 years...some might call that actual progress!
• Hi Tom, We're into the new normal. It's irreversible. Collegial cabinets are long gone, caucus is nothing more than a pathetic rubber stamp (except on the r...
• Tom, I could be wrong but I suspect both the Liberals and the NDP are still keen on both, especially the second but what's the point as long as this governm...
• Stop equalization, I hope you don't have any money riding on that!
• Nope, you still don't. It's legal and legitimate in parliamentary terms but it is in no way legitimate in political terms with a government having been elect...
• Stop equalization: are you a CLASSIC Star Trek television series fan? If so, this is for you: Quotation from Mr. Spock - "No one can guarantee the actions...
• Tom, It's pointless on the government side. Remember that the wolf signs their nomination papers before an election, or more importantly, a RE-ELECTION...it...
• Hollinm, "Funny I have never seen Harper having people around him to tell him what to say." That's because they're spread out too thin, telling everyone el...
• Blackacadian, I expect Max is in for a long stay in the doghouse. However, one thing could change that: if their fortunes sink so low in Ontario that Queb...
• Only Jack Knows For Sure. Jack said at a press conference that he's feeling pretty good. Glad to hear it. Hopefully, his treatment will go fine, without a...
• Hollinm, Let me say up front that I have absolutely no expertise in these matters. One thing does strike me -- were I on the receiving end for a shared co...
• rsharp2, The Gods know but they aren't telling.
• Hollinm, I agree there is no groundswell for national daycare. But there comes a time when you have to bite the bullet. Now, if taxpayers revolt over the ...
• Hollinm, My point is that this Prime Minister does not have enough confidence in his OWN ministers to let them think for themselves...the more competent a...
• Hollinm, A good strategist always cultivates his sources in both his former and present party! Let's leave it at that. And yes, I did indeed go overboa...
• Just Think Of The Game Show! Next time bureaucrats get into a little spot of trouble regarding Access to Information requests thanks to pesky ministerial ...
• Hollinm, Neither. I'm just an ordinary Joe who happens to know where to go and whom to speak with when I want to find out something I-N-T-E-R-E-S-T-I-N-G!...
• Hollinm, Not in a million years! My CPC senators are both so loyal he could quite literally put his life in their hands. Those two guys wouldn't leak eve...
• Rough and tumblee, Why don't you at least be frank -- what you say is true of past Liberal governments but also of the latest incarnation of this government...
• Rough and tumblee, I presume this means that I met your father in the past. Please tell him right back at him!
• Rough and tumblee, If we fight the good fight that is what is truly important in the end...not really whether we win or lose. For my part, I try to be gra...

Nanos Leadership Index and Ballot (2009-12-30)

• What's Wrong With This Government? Just caught my two favourite pundits on the tube this morning. Now that's better. In fact, one hell of a lot less frostie...
• Non-Aligned in Toronto, One can't make that argument in Michael's case. Reagan had a serious medical condition, which I suspect, was already diagnosed durin...
• That Conservative New Year's Resolution. I hope that the linguists are being paid overtime -- talk about previously pent up demand from the royal blue side ...
• Taking The War To The Conservatives. Prorogation II has killed the well-worn myth of parties working together for the common good. In reality, that was neve...
• Non-aligned in Toronto, It takes TWO to form a deliberate willingness to go down that road...I've warned in the past that that type of tactic is at best, co...
• Brusmit, Would you agree with me on the following? Chrétien has the ability to go for the jugular but with humour. To my mind, it all started with Diefenbak...
• Brusmit, I took figurative writing to a new height with my podium statement. I should have been a lot cleaner so readers wouldn't conclude that I expected a...
• Brusmit, My views are not represented in any way, shape or form in the OLO. To be perfectly frank, the more that inaction reigns, the more an impression of ...
• Tom, You will fall off your chair when you read this! My comments will be completely contrary to previously expressed positions on leadership. I'm writing,...
• Rough and tumblee, Nice yarn. If anyone thinks Liberals will roll over and play dead, expect one mighty unpleasant revelation to be revealed to Conservative...
• Rough and tumble, I will take him or her on, if or as necessary. Happy New Year! If we play our cards right, it could be one hell of a Liberal year.
• Brusmit, Happy New Year! Thanks. I will head over to the Globe and Mail now. You have made it quite irresistible by what you've posted from the article.
• Brusmit, What's happening? Surely, you're not going soft because of the holidays! I find your latest comments quite balanced vis-à-vis we Liberals. Perhaps...
• Brusmit, I honestly don't know. The deck was so stacked against Martin by 2006: sponsorship, Options-Canada, RCMP inquiry into the conduct of the finance mi...
• Brusmit, Thanks. The more we think alike, the more Liberals are likely to put distance between themselves and yours truly...but hey, you've got to call 'em ...
• Rough and tumblee, Robust action is a many splendid thing. Just ask this Prime Minister. Options are available. Our task is to pick them -- especially in Ma...
• Rough and tumblee, Call me full of myself -- but it's been our collective experience that the more Conservatives are dead set against something -- the more ...
• Rough and tumblee, Does it not logically flow that if Conservative public policy is now or has always been excellent, that those same Canadians would have p...
• Rough and tumblee, A course of action will always inevitably trump a course of inaction...
• Consertative Supporter, I've just logged in to my Twitter account. It took about twenty seconds. Are you sure that your log-name or e-mail and password are ...
• Rough and tumblee, Agreed, and someone will. In our present political reality, Michael knows he has one shot and not two (as is traditionally afforded Liber...
• Rough and tumblee, Under the new normal, the new unofficial but widely understood political reality, Michael, or any other leader (hypothetically speaking),...
• Rough and tumblee, Thank you. Same to you. Our model is this Prime Minister. The man has come a long way: remember when they were not exactly wild about Har...
• Tom, Nice to see that we are on the same wavelength on prorogation. I expect it to come back and haunt this government. I suspect that as soon as the Prime...
• Consertative Supporter, I'm a bit of an odd duck on all of this: I never use my Twitter page and my damned Facebook page has been blank since I became a mem...
• Brusmit, I'm a very crass person Brusmit who has not been enlightened enough today to survey any of the morning papers. So preoccupied with potentially accu...
• Brusmit, I don't happen to believe in Alice in Wonderland, The Tooth Fairy or The Easter Bunny...for any politician to suggest that we can reach balance by ...
• Brusmit, In French we say la cerise sur le sundae (and the kicker -- the cherry on the sundae) is the following: imagine the size of the pending political t...
• Consertative Supporter, Interesting read. I know nothing about the comportment of Olympic athletes. Two things strike me: each athlete has to do the best he...
• Tom, House and Senate reform to my mind is simple as can be. I could probably accomplish it in two days of meetings. Call me full of it, but that's as far a...
• Brusmit, Perhaps we should cast our eyes toward Ottawa next. I suspect that we may be able to find incidences of individual double-dipping there...
• There Goes That Carefree Spring... That's one positive thing you can say about the Harper PMO. It's nothing if not a hub of frenzied activity. Can you just ...
• Tom, I'm not a constitutional lawyer but with respect, I doubt that can be done without the seven provinces on board. Am I wrong? As for Liberal alternativ...
• Well, Excuse Me! This just in from 660 News: Psychic says Tories set for majority Kelly Turner Jan 02, 2010 12:10:09 PM Scandal, betrayal and a security b...
• Tom, Even if it could pass thanks to the new Senators, surely the three opposition parties will line up in the House to prevent that. I suspect the NDP, lon...
• Rough and tumble, Nice one. But the question at hand is whether he also will be subject to major and perhaps unanticipated renovations...
• Brusmit, Again we are at a respectful impasse. If you guys poison-pill, it will take turning water into wine to pin it on the Liberals, or any other opposit...
• Brusmit, I'm not so sure. The creaming would only be possible in Western Canada. It would have little to no effect in seat-rich Ontario, where most NDP seat...
• Midnight Has Come And Gone. And still no PMO Press Release on Senate appointments. They're slipping! Are they waiting until we are all comatose??? Good Ni...
• Brusmit, Hopefully, other posters will add to our debate. P.S. You strike me as being just as in touch as I am. Nighty, night.
• Brusmit, Truthfully, no. But I still remember how to work a back channel -- and that does provide occasional success.
• Tom, Even Liberals know that reform must come to the Upper Chamber. IMHO, once any government has a majority, it will have to be tackled. If it takes 10-25 ...
• Brusmit, My comments were based on contemporary reality. But if Tom's projections re: the time frame on Senate reform are correct, all that I previously sai...
• Joan, No wonder Canadians don't want an election. I guess they'd rather not chance another campaign while this government is on a "roll"...
• Africon, Happy New Year! Forgive me but I'm anally retentive this morning: actually it must have been at Laurier House. If memory serves correctly, the...
• Rough and tumble, Happy New Year! Thank you. I hope we'll soon be very busy! But most Liberals believe my thinking is full of it.
• Joan, Happy New Year! May 2010 be the year of change.
• Rough and tumble, I knew Senator Léopold Langlois. Thank God I'm so young otherwise it would really date me! Anyway, as I recall mandatory retirement at 7...
• Consertative Supporter, Will get back to you on that ASAP. Signed, Formerly from the side of the party you don't like!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Consertative Supporter, I was a Progressive Conservative and Conservative and left the party in December 2008 to join the Liberals.
• Tom, Agreed. Happy New Year!
• Consertative Supporter, I'm sticking with Michael. Remember how Chrétien and Harper couldn't give water away to a person dying of thirst...things have a f...
• Rough and tumble, This Prime Minister is entering dangerous waters if he proceeds in the same fashion Mulroney did to get the Free Trade Agreement through...
• Rough and tumblee, The opposition can only be pushed so far: prorogation twice and if this Prime Minister goes for a Mulroney -- that may be the straw tha...
• Rough and tumblee, I take your point that Chrétien prorogued twice. As for the rest, both of us will see, won't we.
• Consertative Supporter, Here we go: (I'm assuming that you had no trouble creating your Twitter account.) Click on Sign In and (type e-mail; and password ...
• The Thorn For Harper In The Wildrose. Well, Danielle Smith, you seem to be off to a flying start. Next you'll be getting official party status -- after al...
• Brusmit, Never say never! Stephen Harper is living proof of that. We all thought (those of us in the Belinda camp) he would never make it and become Prim...
• The Disinformation Olympics. Geez, who would have thought that little old Canada would in the space of a few weeks get to enjoy TWO Olympic events. One will...
• Brusmit, Personally, I'll believe it when they source it, not before. But they won't have the guts to do that.
• LHTW, As someone who remains convinced that this Prime Minister will poison-pill the budget, the odds are pretty likely -- unless the Conservatives start ...
• LHTW, You mean like Conservative cabinet ministers, Stockwell excepted!
• Brusmit, Does the name of some guy called Obama mean anything to you? He just spent the better part of a month vacationing in Hawaii and we didn't hear yo...
• Rough and tumble, Nice to see you haven't mellowed over the holidays!
• LHTW, Our soldiers will support the incumbent government. You know that very well. It all goes back to Borden in the First World War.
• Brusmit, Quite obviously with the delay in appointing the five senators, that means that this Prime Minister is planning on using the "Mulroney" clause to...
• Brusmit, It usually takes me a while but I do try! Thanks.
• Can You Spell G-A-M-E- C-H-A-N-G-E-R? At least one pundit predicted that Prorogation II would be a game-changer and I agree with that assessment. Check...
• Brusmit, Logical. No doubt about it, if the PM goes it's because projections are at bare minimum for a Conservative win. Otherwise, what would be the poin...
• Brusmit, As a Liberal free-agent there is nothing to stop me so OK.
• Brusmit, Here is my dispassionate "off-the-cuff" analysis: The Conservative war room is correct in following these metrics and sub-sets. Liberals shoul...
• Brusmit, Have a nice evening. I won't...laundry.
• Brusmit, I think you hit the target on HST in BC.
• Brusmit, Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't Michael's children from his first marriage residents in the United Kingdom? That was my impression but I don't...
• Brusmit, As a married man, you know how it goes: when a good women isn't cracking the whip...things slide and it did!
• Brusmit, Rather pressed for time this morning but again my sense of it is that you are correct: HST bleeding could very well account for it, rather dramat...
• Rough and tumble, I'm tired. Too much getting on the pot without shitting. Time for me to take a long rest...
• Rough and tumble, Yes, that too! Gone home, back to my own blog where I can be myself, come what may. I'm not made of as strong stuff as you are. I though...
• Brusmit, Thank you. You're welcome to visit if you are so inclined. http://politicalcivildiscourse.blogspot.com/
• Hi Jack, Happy New Year! Long time no see. I'm spending my time over at my blog with a lot less to say than was previously the case. As you can see, I'm sti...
• Consertative Supporter, It's Donolo's shop. He can run it as he sees fit. Last time we were in the room together, he expressed his view that this is not the...
• Tom, Amen, brother...
• Jack, As a Conservative, you won't subscribe to the following (at least I think you won't) but here it goes: as Liberals, it's not only our job but our OBLI...
• Brusmit, Reminds me of the iron law of diminishing political returns for this government!
• Jack, They say that the smug quiet self-satisfaction of saying after the fact "I told you so.", is a pleasant experience. Quite frankly, it's one I would pr...
• Brusmit, Prorogation may indeed turn out to be the mouse that roared but one thing is certain: it has killed the previous open-mind many Canadians had with ...
• Rumpole, You won't be surprised to find out that I did not attend an anti-prorogation rally. Yes, I signed the petition but don't like to waste my time pret...
• Brusmit, That should just about finish me in Ottawa. But enough is enough. Time to call a spade a spade...
• Brusmit, Fair enough. Signing off now. Nice talking to you but time to hang it up when it has just become simply going through the motions. Have got bette...
• Economic Action Scam, Most people in Ottawa never really learn. Once again, it's a Conservative round. Foolish to the extreme but an overreach is an overr...
• Brusmit, There are always innovative ways for an incumbent government to handle issues such as Colvin. This latest move, clumsy though it may be, does not...
• Jack, You have plenty of breathing room left, even under Harper. The voters in their infinite wisdom??...have basically decided that Jack and Michael will...
• CanadianPatriot, Again, the same pattern continues: we Liberals rise but level off rather than continue PAST the Conservatives. Isn't that the POINT of th...
• Neveratory, Let's get something clear, none of us want us to "peak" now. What I think is reasonable is for our trajectory to be continually ascending incr...
• Jack, With respect, you are stuck with this Prime Minister until he loses. And right now, unless the OLO does a big 180, Harper's odds of re-election with...
• Brusmit, Harper just doesn't get it. Each time his government takes another shot at Colvin, it's happy days are here again for the opposition parties. Mi...
• NotoLibtoads, By all means, go Harper go! Send in old Stock to slash and burn over at Treasury Board. Make the place look like it just went through World ...
• I'm Not For Turning. This Prime Minister believes in playing hard ball. I admire that. That's why he has 51 senators! But I also think that we have to take ...
• Neveratory, As an aside, at least you didn't choose the moniker Neveraredtory! I hope Michael is receptive to your overtures. Good Luck.
• Brusmit, Instead of playing cat and mouse (or is it mouse and cat?) with your opposite number, how about addressing my points. You might find that more inte...
• Brusmit, I'm in but not as in as before...when something of interest pops up, I'll have a few words to say. As for replies, I hope it does not offend you ...
• Neveratory, Some choose to use multiple identities. That's not my bag. However, my attitude is, whatever floats your boat. I suspect that in the long run,...
• Brusmit, Likewise.
• The Verdict Is In: We're Considered Nothing More Than "IDIOTS"! Comforting thought -- play us all for fools and hope we aren't smart enough to see through t...
• Neveratory, If you're in the mood, stayed tuned. I feel another one coming over me!
• And The Winner Of The Captain Smith Award Is...Prime Minister Stephen Harper! Nice going, Ottawa...the PM and Peter Van Loan are slated to make the big anno...
• Jack, It really boggles the mind to see this Prime Minister presiding over one recent political and public relations disaster after another...whether you ...
• Talk about Chutzpah! Nice to see the Harper government on the defensive over the Bye Bye American accord. Up until recently, it was a "[Stephen], we didn't ...
• JasonC, This strikes me as a tired government going about doing its "best" work just before it potentially falls into the actual throes of political death...
• JasonC, I will be pulling for Jack. He's an honorable man who has well served his country and deserves many more years at it! In politics, we take people an...
• Neveratory, No kidding, not you! Who would have thought it.
• Neveratory, We have to be extremely careful since this matter is under investigation. IMHO, the only responsible thing that can be said is that this situati...
• Jason, With respect, I take a different view: the future ballot question will be one of competence. This Prime Minister is many things -- including seen by ...
• Neveratory, You said "[ ] ...until much closer in to an election." To my mind, that's progress. What haunts me is the following (which I believe will not a...

Nanos National Poll - Views on Afghan detainees issue (2009-12-23)

• If You Think You Can Take A Breather...Think Again, And Fast! We're back to amateur hour in Ottawa -- with some bright lights predicting that we won't see a...
• Brusmit, Thanks. I'm good and may figure it out. But then again, perhaps I may not prove to be good enough. We'll both see whether others are up to the chal...
• Brusmit, If we're talking direct government initiatives and legislative priorities, I have much homework ahead of me... If we're talking indirect benefits ...
• Brusmit, It's highly convenient to brand Harper as the cause of the race to the bottom. At most, he is a manifestation, a contributing factor. Others are eq...
• Brusmit, Careful, you are morphing into a Red Tory. You don't want to generate a collective heart attack west of the lakehead! Exceedingly fine points, IMH...
• Brusmit, What about the other truth of war as illustrated by Delta in Chicago? Even on a war footing, governments consistently and inevitably drop the ball ...
• Oops, that should be Detroit.
• Brusmit, Agreed that you did not suggest that he was the cause.
• Brusmit, I have a fair idea who you mean but I'd rather not push my luck! Perhaps you even have a couple of candidates east of the lakehead.
• Brusmit, Agreed but we should be on the stick with potentially people's lives at stake. It was a shocking wonder to see all those children coming off Delta ...
• Brusmit, Yes, thank you. I presume you had the same?
• Brusmit, You know my position on the Charter which may or may not apply to some of these cases. You know my position on positive actors versus people caught...
• Brusmit, One more thing. The more that the Charter can serve as a pain in the ass for government, the more I rejoice. It's our job as citizens to stick it t...
• Brusmit, Fair enough. But problem one seems to be the watch lists. Names are not enough. We need enhanced detail to pick out the correct ABC from the 1000 p...
• Brusmit, You know you've got one hell of a problem when sitting members of the U.S. Senate have trouble boarding flights...while purported bombers are almos...
• Perhaps true balance can never be achieved, on any matter, even in the most peaceable of times.
• OFF TOPIC: Brusmit, What's your prediction for reconciliation in Washington? Will the Senate and the House of Representatives get a bill (as I eventually e...
• Why Did Clinton Take A Beating? You have no idea how I hope someone out there sends John Parisella our way! That's one of the burning questions for me abou...
• Brusmit, Insightful. Thanks. The only problem is you're still not a betting man.
• Rough and tumble, I'm in complete agreement with the second part, but not the first. The race to the bottom has indeed, unfortunately, been going on fo...
• Brusmit, The essential truth is that neither major party wants to face the voters. They both need to get their numbers up. As you know, my electoral ca...
• Rough and tumble, Holy C....! I would give my little fellas to know why. Is it because he veered far too left in their eyes or have they got some other beef?
• Brusmit, I've noticed that!
• Brusmit, If what Rough and tumble has suggested is not factual, all you have to do is confirm it.
• Brusmit, You know I'm always willing to oblige: 1) I prefer to use the term regroup!; 2) Not really. It won't be like LBJ would like it in the House...
• Brusmit, Obviously, neither you or I have the information at hand. Those who want to confirm or refute his statement can go at it. Both of us, I suspect, ...
• Brusmit, Neither of you gives a damn what the other person thinks. Why bother illustrating his comments. My advice would be the same to him. That exercise...
• Brusmit, 2) This might help: we don't need to push for an election. All we have to do is turn the House into a mini-Senate. Liberal MPs only have to be le...
• Brusmit, One poll had the CPC in the 32% range. It's the Angus Reid poll but I'm a little mixed up -- it's on Harper's personal leadership numbers, not on...
• Hollinm, Remember how low Reagan dropped during the recession of 1982...he recovered from that and went on to win a second term. I'm not ruling that ou...
• Hollinm, I see two game-changers ahead: one will depend on the implementation process post-Montreal. Rapid substantive action will be needed to translate ...
• Hollinm, Remember when they started calling Clinton "Slick Willy". It wasn't for the obvious reason...and it stuck. The voters nodded and then threw him o...
• Hollinm, At this stage, my money is on Romney. But we all know what happens to "frontrunners"!...
• Hollinm, To my mind, that won't be a problem for most Americans. IMHO, it will only hurt a potential Republican ticket on the margins.
• Speculating On The Way Forward. Sorry Nik, but I want to mention the last Harris/Decima poll: most of you remember that one -- it put Conservative support...
• Sorry Brusmit. Not in my lifetime. When Powell endorsed Obama that did it for most Republicans. Powell is now an enemy for life among social conservatives wh...
• Hollinm, Are you predicting an outright win?
• Brusmit, That incredible crashing sound you hear is the long heralded but frequently forestalled Conservative majority going right off the cliff!!!!!!
• Brusmit, I can find it for you. Hold tight!
• Brusmit, That's certainly your opinion.
• Brusmit, You know me, the out-of-the-box thinker. Now you can also add counter-cyclical!
• Brusmit, Quite obviously, and respectfully said, you aren't yet sufficiently acquainted with American social conservatives.
• Brusmit, À votre service! Here is a starting point: OTTAWA (Reuters) - [...] A Harris-Decima survey, released by the Canadian Press late on Wed...
• Brusmit, The herd mentality isn't my bag. Sort of explains why I'm no longer a Conservative. Fawning isn't my gig. He gave me bad vibes over at the Allian...
• Brusmit, They have a right to their views though some may consider them "misguided" but then again -- so do I, or you, for that matter.
• Brusmit, It isn't posted on either Harris/Decima or Canadian Press...
• Hollinm, To win we have to strike it rich in two areas: fatigue and exasperation factor along with an overall change dynamic. Are they building yet? I thi...
• Brusmit, Agreed that for the moment, that it's a magnificent cavalcade of one!
• Brusmit, Nice one!
• Hollinm, In politics, we both agree, that yes ANYTHING is indeed possible, though unlikely.
• Brusmit, Some people should change their names from [insert name of animal] to FRISKY!!!!!!!!!! (Damned lawyers.)
• Brusmit, H/D is only up to posting December 7th, so far...
• Brusmit, Agreed that the odds favour a stemming of any possible Liberal tide. It will be a tough slog to make gains in rural ridings. No question about it...
• Brusmit, How about this: you have work to do; we have more to do than you have.
• Brusmit, Agreed that Bloc clout goes down over time but neither of us will be winning Trudeauesque 70+ seats in Quebec anytime soon. Always remember t...
• Consertative Supporter, Happy New Year! Bennett was a self-made millionaire. He was a Conservative and got whipped by the Depression and Mackenzie King. (...
• Consertative Supporter, If you go on the Bank of Canada website they will confirm which PM was in power when they were created. Don't forget to look fo...

Nanos-Policy Options National Poll - Third Annual "Mood of Canada" Poll (2009-12-09)

• Brusmit, Can the MPCC seek leave to appeal to the SCC or is that door closed to them? If it is, or if they can seek leave but are unlikely to get it, then y...
• In Politics, You Win Some, You Lose Some... You know how the old trite saying goes: for every door that shuts, a window opens! That's what I'm admiring now ...
• Why MacKay Is Going Nowhere. I almost feel like breaking out into a rendition of The Star Spangled Banner what with all the bombs bursting in air -- day in ...
• Brusmit, Something tells me that you can really relate to the following: ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. Good for you! After all, it's...
• Rough and tumble, Here's where we respectfully disagree: the PM can't afford to SIDELINE another Defence Minister. You've been around for a long time. You...
• Brusmit, I have a pretty good idea where this leak came from. This is one fine deflection slapshot, if I've ever seen one. Now someone gets to play the...
• Tommies, If Harper thinks that the holiday break will mean that the fat lady has sung, he's dreaming. This isn't over by a longshot as this Prime Minister...
• Brusmit, One of my favourite theories goes as follows: it's always better to be in the Artic standing on pack ice than on new ice...to my knowledge, whist...
• Brusmit, I can relate to your argument but both of us know that it's bound to be much more than one on the Conservative watch. The coffee is still percola...
• Brusmit, Why that should be more than obvious - WINNING ice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why do you think that I'm still in the game.
• Brusmit, Nothing anyone does can put this monkey on Michael's back. He is in the clear and will remain so.
• Brusmit, Let's not mix apples and oranges -- apples are directly related to previous government conduct, either Liberal or Conservative; oranges on the...
• Something For The Government of Canada. Let's start off with a given -- to become a successful exporter, you usually have to start out as an importer. That ...
• Come on Brusmit! You guys have been in power almost four years and you're right back where you started when you formed your first government. That WOULD mak...
• Tommies, Just what every Canadian soldier wants while missing the family -- a visit from Stephen Harper... That should heal the boo boo all right!
• Brusmit, If we got rid of all the politicians wanking us as voters, no one would be left in the Commons to watch the place burn down thanks to the flame! N...
• Brusmit, Pay particular notice to the fact that I know when to shut up.
• Brusmit, Are you saying that the Harper government's SCC reference is about to be stayed so that Omar can come home and face trial? Now that would be trul...
• Brusmit, I told every Liberal I could find not to turn that CPC brick of a handbook on obstructing parliamentary committee work into a bible but I guess it ...
• Mode man, I hope you remember to read my latest post. Much appreciated.
• Brusmit, Quite frankly, I think we have our work cut out for us. You will note that my hair is steadily turning grey. Fortunately, not being in the OLO, the...
• Brusmit, I'm saying Liberal mistakes were made by both Chrétien and Martin. (Oops, I knew I should have kept it shut.)
• Brusmit, Don't you recognize an indirect punt when you see one? The master has taught all of us.
• But Brusmit, if that's the case, where are YOUR two Trudeau and THREE Chrétien majorities! I think you guys still need a little more class time. You're not ...
• Brusmit, I'm on the outside looking in, not the other way around. Who knows?
• Brusmit, My indirect punt could also be categorized as an artful deflection. Hope that helps.
• But Brusmit, The only relevant point is: who happens to be doing the teaching?!
• Brusmit, You are too kind today. Will you be the same when my fellow Liberal shows up for work?!!!!!!!!!
• Brusmit, Well, it might happen in the chamber where Animal House runs rampant -- brought to us in equal measure by all the parties "represented" there...no ...
• Rough and tumble, We won't need pills -- soon enough!
• Brusmit, Governor-Generals are like Bob Barker-speak about animals. Same refrain, that in the final analysis, applies in spades to all G-Gs, past, present a...
• Cheers For Jason. I'm dumbfounded. Listen to all that cheering for Jason Kenney on CBC News Network. I'll bet none of it is coming from Mother Corp. headqua...
• Brusmit, And I thought Conservatives were potential Wild Rosers, just waiting for it to go national. Keep the faith, baby!
• Brusmit, It's our job to turn that temporary squeeze into a semi-permanent Liberal hug!
• Brusmit, Do like I do -- dwell in the realm of the theoretical, which allows both of us to potentially get a majority. The rest, as you well know, is just p...
• Brusmit, Time will prove one of us right and the other a political idiot. Notice how I've not deliberately placed either one of us in one or other of the tw...
• Tommies, Hate to break it to you but all parties support the people in uniform. The Conservative unpatriotic smokescreen hasn't worked -- and won't. The Can...
• Brusmit, We have to play it right -- be on our best game to win. Otherwise, it's curtains. That's why we're changing the cast of characters in the OLO. Brin...
• Brusmit. Well said. Agreed.
• Brusmit, Another point comes to mind: we're only as good as our last strategic decision, which in many cases, quite literally turns out to be the last one.
• Blackacadian, Agreed. Only the creator knows ahead of time how the electoral calculus will ultimately shake out.
• Rough and tumble, The Conservatives play the game relying on one man and his strategic assets. Look at the incredible difference in ability between Mr. Nove...
• Tommies, I'm not commenting on whether this tact is a sound political strategy to move polls. What I'm saying is that anyone who charges that the opposition...
• Brusmit, For a guy who earlier today knew absolutely nothing about indirect punting, you've learned a lot rather quickly! (Witness your last paragraph.) As...
• Brusmit, Not in the mood for a pissing contest. We will continue to disagree on this matter. We'll both defer to the future instruction we receive from the ...
• Brusmit, Too bad a Conservative government can't find the logic to trust Liberal Privy Councillors. Interesting, isn't it. What does that say about this gov...
• Brusmit, Your rather intense reaction suggests that unlike Truman, you guys are having trouble taking the heat. As a former Conservative, that surprises me....
• Brusmit, You forget where Liberal Privy Councillors comes from: it started with you saying that documents that were not redacted would only be provided to P...
• Brusmit, Off all people, you're the person who knows best there are many compelling versions of the truth. One will favour your side, one mine. The actual...
• Brusmit, I'll try -- if I can find it again but it could take some time.
• Brusmit, We aren't stupid. The voters have spoken on the coalition. Some Liberals will wear this, even in a possible government. They will be held accounta...
• Brusmit, Thank you. You have no idea how relieved I am to stand corrected. It would have been pure hell searching for that. Now, please explain to me why L...
• Brusmit, I believe that your SECOND point is an excellent analysis of things and I wholeheartedly agree with it, except for forecasting direct future voting...
• Brusmit, Nice return serve on the 35 years. Your point is well taken BUT we're talking about the present and future -- the response of the so-called "ACCOUN...
• A F G H A N I S T A N. Conservative types are stressed out and rather irritated over the entire mess. They've asked Santa to make it all blow over -- or eve...
• Brusmit, "The other point is the Liberals cannot paint the Conservatives with one brush and expect the Liberals who are painted with the same brush to then ...
• Brusmit, Proceed as you wish. I'm winded but can continue!
• Brusmit, You weren't kidding quite a while back when you said you were good at multi-tasking! How about closing this front until after eight for a bite? We...
• Brusmit, Have you taken to doing delicate painting with a roller? My God, let's take each of these whoppers one at a time: a) With support of the troops at...
• Brusmit, We are all one whether we have many incarnations or not. I'm the only one of the three of us that goes solo on this board. I hope you admire our g...
• Brusmit, I don't like the PMO or the various Departments making the rules when they are clearly implicated in something. I also don't like public servants c...
• Brusmit, I have one word for all this: N I X O N. No one is above the law in the U.S. or this country. I don't happen to practice constitutional law. Ordina...
• Brusmit, Nope. I can smell blood in the water -- and it ain't Liberal red. The Conservatives are a might too fidgety in body language. That says it all. Sta...
• Brusmit, You stick to your guns. I'll stick to mine.
• Please Brusmit. The Senate has a deck of cards without a single ace. The will of the House of Commons will ultimately prevail. As long as you have the Libera...
• Brusmit, Next you'll be telling us that the Christmas lights on Parliament Hill weren't very nice tonight...
• Rough and tumble, You should be more charitable -- not to miss Tim's Christmas party!
• Brusmit, Are you sure you got that right? Surely, you meant to say P-A-Y-D-I-R-T.
• Nighty, night Brusmit. Try not to get this government into any further pickles over the recess, that is, if you can actually help it! Happy holidays to you...
• Brusmit, Personally, I prefer the term in transition toward government.
• Hey Brusmit, Here's a bit of advice: try not to be such a grumpy elf so close to Christmas. You really seem to be feeling the heat. How about taking the dog...
• Prime Minister: Please Tell Peter To Pass The Spade On To Lawrence! I don't know about you but it suddenly dawned on me that Defence Minister Peter MacKay s...
• Rough and tumble, Did you know that the Conservative's favourite Christmas carol is by Nat King Cole? It starts off like this: Chestnuts roasting on an ope...
• Rough and tumble, Especially in Copenhagen! Poor Prentice...the next "Stanfield"...
• Copenhagen: Tears Flowing. Can I ever relate to all the frustration that is building over climate change in Copenhagen. Canada, once seen as a model for the...
• Brusmit, Did you give your sense of humour away for Christmas? Sure sounds like it...
• Brusmit, Good thing this Prime Minister is not in your frame of mind. Otherwise, he'd arrive in Copenhagen as the grinch with what else -- a lump of oil san...
• Brusmit, You weren't this grouchy when your government was riding high. But now that the government is taking serious hits, it's turning into a whine-a-thon...
• Brusmit, No wonder you will find it especially galling when the so-called "brainless" manage to push this government out of office. I can relate to being b...
• Consertative Supporter, You know we can't do that. You worked in financial services all your life. You know that what is good for the goose is good for the ...
• Brusmit, Remember when Michael said: "Mr. Harper, your time is up!" That was the real Michael speaking. He is no fool. He know that if he leads, the people ...
• Brusmit, You used to be able to take a punch. What happened?
• Brusmit, I'm not in the habit of lying. Notice how I did not extend that sentence. You know that I'm not an expert but if memory serves, I believe that you...
• Brusmit, Respect is a two-way street. To get it, you have to earn it. Someone should remind the Prime Minister of that. He can check with public servants, j...
• Brusmit, You are politically sophisticated enough to know that it is neither for you or me to judge whether our punches have landed. That is best left to th...
• Brusmit, Michael is not hiding. He'll have more to say soon enough.
• Brusmit, We will face the voters. And when we do, the vote will be on ACCOUNTABILITY -- not Liberal accountability but that of a four-year Conservative gove...
• Brusmit, You should be telling this Prime Minister how to do his job, not me. But since you quite obviously won't, I will oblige: 1. it's his job and respo...
• Brusmit, Disingenuous does not become you. You know perfectly well that we (I was part of we in 2006) got a free ride in that campaign. We were on message a...
• Brusmit, See Brusmit, you made me laugh with this post. Now you're getting into the zone but I can't let that happen for too long: a) Neither of us was bor...
• Brusmit, As Ronnie would say: "There you go, again." Remember Brusmit, when steering the ship of state, it's generally a good idea to look forward and not ...
• Brusmit, We live in a democracy. I can punch as high as I bloody well want.
• Brusmit, Are you serious? The press all but carried us across the finish line. You forget how many editorial boards endorsed us -- The Globe and Mail comes ...
• Brusmit, As before, agreed on these points: 4, 5 & 6.
• Brusmit, It's kind of hard to check with him, at the moment. I thought you were going to come up with a Johnism: "I didn't take the fish out of the GD ocean...
• Brusmit, FULL DISCLOSURE: As you know I'm in conflict of interest here. The less our clients pay, the less we potentially lose in proposals or bankruptcies....
• Brusmit, Agreed. I flew off the handle. I apologize.
• Brusmit, You know how this government's position on GHGs gets me going. And I'm a relatively old fart. Imagine how the young people feel. No wonder that wom...
• Brusmit, To lighten the mood, let me tell you a story: in my considerably younger journalistic days, good old J came to town along with his then campaign ma...
• Brusmit, If you insist.
• Brusmit, I missed that. Fair is fair. While I'm searching for links, please send me the one for the SCC saying that the coalition was trying to break the la...
• Brusmit, Yes he did add seats, didn't he. He expects to do it again next time. We'll see!
• Brusmit, I don't get to decide anything either fortunately: a) for the Liberals; OR b) for the Conservatives. Take your pick.
• Brusmit, Understood.
• Obama On 60 Minutes.
• Media Who Endorsed Harper in 2006. http://74.125.93.132/search?q=cache:EUeDgjmw52IJ:www.thevancouverite.com/vancouver_politics/sun_province_endorse_harper/+...
• Brusmit, Again, I can and do see your point.
• Brusmit, J is forced by circumstances to play in partnership with his premier. He was appointed by this Prime Minister. As for J's premier, I doubt Harper w...
• Hey Hollinm and Lex Ludor, Care to give us your views on my assessment of the 2006 campaign. Thank you. For your convenience, I will cut and paste it below...
• Khalid: Canadian Press Drops A Bomb Shell. Because this story has been specifically copyrighted, it's wise to not even cut and paste part of it. Two things...
• Consertative Supporter, I limit my Asian exposure to two Ex-Japan mutual funds. Guess which one is out performing -- wait for it, HSBC! (Thought you might...
• Consertative Supporter, Agreed. In spite of the glut in gas, you know me -- patience is my middle name.
• Brusmit, Agreed. Now, what I'm about to write applies to any government. It's my contention, without verification, that coming in, Harper was ahead with t...
• Brusmit, Here it is.: Cadman rapped by party for HST rebuke Published: December 09, 2009 12:00 PM Updated: December 09, 2009 4:17 PM Dona Cad...
• Brusmit, We are not of the same school. I believe in whipped votes and tight discipline. That is vital when you are the government. But when you happen to...
• Brusmit, One more point. If it became an issue of conscience and I was a backbench MP (God Forbid...), I would vote against my party or government but ann...
• Brusmit, As regards the FLW, all I can say is that I suspect she will be receiving Crazy Glue for Christmas... As for the enthusiastic enrollment of ne...
• Brusmit, I don't know. Look at it theoretically. MPs should be trying as much as possible to reflect the views of their constituents once they have seen t...
• Brusmit, Someone might tell her to use it if she keeps this up.
• Please Fire All The Losers Proposing 11% For Greenhouse Gas Reductions in Canada. Thank you.
• Brusmit, Can't be. All journalists are supposed to be Liberals! Remember?
• JuandeFuca, Makes me wonder if all Conservative strategists are recent graduates from "Dig Your Own Grave University"... DYOGU rocks.
• Brusmit, Please give it a rest...
• Brusmit, Please make my week and prorogue. I like it when people cut their own throats. Saves me some time and effort.
• Brusmit, It may not have occurred to you but I do have to at least hold up the pretense of doing my job -- once in a while!
• Brusmit, No one could chase you from this board even with a tank.
• Brusmit, Same to you and yours. P.S. I wouldn't call it testy -- I prefer incredibly realistic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Brusmit, I've had a chance to read some of the pieces. I'm glad that the Liberal Party has apologized for that photo. All parties need to remember that wh...
• Brusmit, Canadians have a better chance of seeing a Republic of Ron than a Republic of Alberta. Albertans think big and live big. The day they flirt with ...
• Zoolander, I disagree. Perception is everything -- even indirect perception. To my mind, it's right for Michael to speak to Canadians on this matter to al...
• Zoolander, Can you say highly competent legal counsel extremely, extremely quickly...!!!
• Brusmit, You guys sure don't seem to be familiar with the concept of political "retooling". Too bad. Hello...
• Brusmit, We're not idiots and Michael is, and he should be, in favour of oil sands development. Pacing is what concerns me. But that is for Stelmach to de...
• Brusmit, As many lovers can attest, a true representation is often, to say the very least "disappointing"...at times like that, one wonders whether someon...
• Brusmit, Candidly, it's a long hard slog, à la Rumsfeld, but as you well know from Harper's own experience, every ultimately successful journey begins wit...
• True Friendships Are Harder Than Diamonds. God knows in this business it's hard enough to strike up a genuine friendship with people in your own party -- ...
• Brusmit, They call it politics because, unfortunately, everybody plays it on every issue...to get a clear picture we have to calculate from the get-go. Se...
• Brusmit, I enjoyed that.
• Just So You Know... Dear Tony, The rest of us aren't exactly thrilled...we know this is an arms length relationship but some of us are concerned with e...
• Brusmit, What do I know but my gut says we will never see any geographic entity separating from our wonderful country of Canada -- and yes, that includes ...
• Brusmit, What I'm suggesting is that in our profession, we may have a professional association (CSCB) which liasons with the federal government but our tr...
• 1) Both. They do an effective job representing provincial interests. Duceppe is a moderate leader who happens himself not to be pure laine. I love the Bloc b...
• Brusmit, You have hidden talents Brusmit. Too bad you have concentrated so much on a world of make believe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Prorogation wi...
• Brusmit, We have to move independently if we are to have any chance of winning. If we are seen by voters as a moving part -- even of an informal loose coa...
• Brusmit, Strictly a personal read. Remember, I thought Martin would barely pull it out in 2006...so it's worth whatever it's worth.
• Climate is Always Changing, Catchy. I suggest you read the graph in this week's Time magazine. The planet's warming trend is crystal clear.
• Climate is Always Changing, I wouldn't go there. Once the precedent is set...just call this a friendly piece of advice.
• Tamarac, Nixon warned from the grave. Too bad they were tone deaf. Now they will reap what they have sowed...
• Climate is Always Changing, You're entirely welcome. I wouldn't want you to get suspended...again!
• Brusmit, It's an interesting read. We will, from all parties, be thinking of the troops during the holidays. May the deity keep them safe and happy.
• Brusmit, Thanks. Are you still the only tank against the onslaught?!!! You must feel like the guys who took two years of incoming Conservative commerci...
• Why Can't This Board Go Silent???!!! Seesh. I can't believe I have to bring this up so close to Christmas. Why don't you guys put a damned cork in it for ...

Nanos National Poll - Healthcare reclaims top issue of concern over economy (2009-11-24)

• Hollinm, Political life in Canada does not inevitably reduce itself to the following equation: Conservatives, GOOD; Liberals, very, very BAD indeed. Please ...
• Speed Test, Didn't Brusmit tell you that breaking promises is the only common heritage shared by both the Liberal and Conservative parties in Ottawa. Even ...
• Speed Test, DEFINITION: Economist Nine people in a room, each with a different opinion, and coincidentally, none of them correct... (serves any government ...
• Speed Test, Trouble ahead! Admitting that the Conservatives are mean and dishonest. Your problem is that you are too honest by nature. No wonder you're not...
• Bernie, We're getting an extremely well deserved drubbing at the Commonwealth Summit. Long overdue in my book. Canada is an environmental pariah under this ...
• Brusmit, My word. Who would have thought that politicians, of all political stripes, would even entertain the notion of putting what is politically expedien...
• Robini, Two mandates under your belt and still no majority. Sounds like a well established political trend to me!
• Brusmit, Nice smear against the "security guard". Perhaps you would be good enough to tell all of us under which government he was promoted and posted to Wa...
• Hollinm, Me thinks he doth anticipate too much.
• Brusmit, Thank you. Actually, I have three legal balls in the air at the same time (in addition to my other work)...so far, one outright win, one unpleasant...
• Brusmit, Fair enough. Point taken.
• Pollfan, I'm cautious but I do love gravity! You know how it goes: what goes up, inevitably goes down and vice-versa. My money is not on the Conservatives ...
• Brusmit, What pollfan said. You're seasoned enough to know what's coming even if Harper wins next time. We're just waiting for you to candidly admit it. Tha...
• Brusmit, The generals and the ambassador were credible. I'm still looking for Colvin's paper trail. Too bad this government is dead set against allowing him...
• Pollfan, Reality means no substantive policy, no possibility of an election win. IF they STILL don't get that in the OLO, Peter is in for one hell of a roug...
• Pollfan, Most Canadians like a level playing field, information wise. This is clearly not that and Canadians can and surely will judge this matter accordingly.
• Pollfan, We will continue to do what we can toward that noble goal.
• Brusmit, A good strategist never says die.
• Justice Needs A Refresher Course. They happen to be called Justice Canada. Could have fooled me. Strange, how Minister Nicholson is silent on this one, he w...
• Hey Brusmit, Thanks to The Star and Pollfan, it appears that you've got a rather large bird to digest. But take comfort in knowing that this too -- shall ev...
• Brusmit, Nice deflection. We're talking Afghan detainees while you're talking interpreting polling data.
• The Heat Is On...And It's WORKING... Nice of this Prime Minister to quickly change his tune and suggest that he'll be working toward a "comprehensive agreem...
• Brusmit, Address me directly and you will probably get an answer to your so-called "challenges". Thanks.
• Pollfan, If anyone thinks they can stamp out Liberals, they are in la la land. We're a party of surprises -- unpleasant ones await this government.
• Pollfan, Am I the only one who sees a pattern here? Somehow I doubt it. Nothing was done until pressure became too much to bear...reminds me of another sit...
• Brusmit, To others, but not directly to me today.
• Hollinm, The Prime Minister might want to consider breaking the logjam this way. Provide it to PCs who previously sat in a Liberal cabinet with a signed wri...
• Brusmit, As regards pre-2006, of course, that period was also one of benign neglect. One cannot fault the Conservative government while not owning up to one...
• Hollinm, It's a trade off decision isn't it? You have to choose the lesser of two evils -- the one that will put less of a hole in your voter support. Eithe...
• Direct answer. a) Because when something is working for you, you don't spray your own people with your own fire if you happen to be the commanding general. ...
• Brusmit, Careful, you're starting to sound overconfident. Just ask Napoleon how that tends to pan out.
• Brusmit, It must be nice to have something to fall back on should your life suddenly find itself changing directions! L'état c'est moi, said the Sun King. ...
• Brusmit, Focus, please. He did not antagonize Martin, he deliberately antagonized the PPG from Day One of his government. He needlessly made countless enemi...
• Brusmit, Warren has countless reserves of his talent which he has yet to unleash upon the unsuspecting. Stay tuned for further and fast-paced developments!
• Brusmit, We each have our crosses: we need to win the big ONE while you guys need to win BIG. Guess which one is more likely?!
• Average Canadian, Those that boast the loudest have much to be modest about...fits the Conservatives like a glove.
• Brusmit, Why don't you bring me up to speed on the elected Senate, that perennial favourite of all persons Western. Just where does it stand right now? I'l...
• Brusmit, Yes he has. Since I have enormous respect for the incoming G-G, I will only use that person's first initial: D. I try not to sleep my way through ...
• Africon, We agree to disagree. (And yes I did buy as much of Encana as I could prior to the upcoming split.) I won't mind taking a beating, to some extent, ...
• Brusmit, Last time I bothered to check myself out, I was at least somewhat pleased with what I saw but it's not polite to brag. Please forgive me!
• Brusmit, What you've added fascinates me. Let's take it one step further. If the provinces have "little will" to elect senators, the obvious question is why...
• Heaven sent, Nice moniker by the way...I hope you live up to it! HS, I don't know. I'm torn over Senate reform or abolition. I like a second chamber as a p...
• Heaven sent, ? Please elaborate. Thanks.
• Heaven sent, Does that mean that we suddenly have several Liberal journalistic hacks masquerading as Conservatives in the Senate? I guess Harper is in for ...
• Heaven sent, We have quite a glut in gas. Most of it is headed into storage. Translation: falling gas prices which to my mind means accumulation stage. Then...
• Brusmit, Can I ever relate to the second part. Sorry to hear that. In my own case, it took place when I was 43 (also five years ago). It was an internal hem...
• Brusmit, I got to see the O'Dowd Fountain without investing a dime in it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Brusmit, Well, if authentic, it does not exactly bolster Colvin's argument. The guy is not an idiot. That suggests that something else, of a major nature, r...
• Brusmit, I like it. It's based both on conservative caution AND out of the box thinking. It is one hell of an interesting mix. It would be nice if support f...
• Brusmit, Agreed that for now, the ice is getting thinner.
• Consertative Supporter, Canadians are fair. They don't like the idea of retired guys testifying with the benefit of secret documents while an active public ...
• Consertative Supporter, Probably because they've seen how this government has conducted itself since 2006...
• Bernie, At least I'm better than the Harper government. I know absolutely nothing about the CFL. They, on the other hand, know zip about how to address the ...
• Hollinm, I differ with Michael on some issues but that is nothing compared to my differences with the Prime Minister. Stephen Harper has every right to take...
• Hollinm, This is an extremely painful period for me as someone who wanted to go last May. (Privately, but not publicly.) I thought Chrétien's arguments were...
• Hollinm, To be perfectly frank, I'm not pushing this for potential political traction because as you say, there just isn't any. Voters believe that pocketbo...
• Hollinm, At this juncture, this seems to be a small legs story. No question about it.
• Hollinm, This is the first time in my political life, such as it is, that I'm totally mystified. I could not offer any competent or enlightened advice to my...
• No Brusmit. I'm simply saying that the entire world may be in for another leg down. I hope not. If it does, no blame will rest with Canadians or their govern...
• Brusmit, Are you sure that everything is out? I have my doubts. But yes, I could be mistaken.
• Brusmit, We've had our moments. Some good, some not, but in our case I don't really think either one of us really STARTED it. Either one of us said somethin...
• Brusmit, When I wrote that I was not referring in any way to anything you said. I was referring to the fact that you didn't fall off the turnip truck yester...
• Brusmit, We are equally guilty: W.K. and who can forget D.E. ...
• Brusmit, Then let me modify it: you are a seasoned retired professional.
• Congratulations Bernie and Pollfan!
• Brusmit, I will not argue your point as it has merit.
• Brusmit, Well said.
• Brusmit, If 100% of the tranferees fall into this category, it can't help but affect the opposition's tact on the detainee question. It is without a doubt a...
• Brusmit, The plot thickens. Glad that I'm not fronting for any side on this mess.
• Brusmit, Do you wholeheartedly agree with this comment from Hollinm?: "Ronald....whether you realize it or not Harper is protecting the country from the en...
• Brusmit, It's a good thing you never considered comedy as a career choice!
• Brusmit, Interesting response. It has quite a deferential quality...
• Brusmit, Ain't being a private citizen grand! I don't have to clear my personal views with anyone -- not my party, not my leader. Refreshing isn't it.
• Brusmit, Personally, I love it when the Prime Minister makes unvarnished comments...it shows all of Canada how truly special that man is!
• Brusmit, I happen to sing extremely well, thank you. But no one knows any better cause Conservatives keep suggesting that as a Liberal, I can't CARRY a tune...
• Brusmit, Just so you know. I'm going beddy bye now. Suffering from a bad case of jet lag (minus the jet). I hope to get to your expected responses later to...
• Brusmit, Correct me if I'm wrong but I was under the impression that I only posted this question about Hollinm's views once.
• Brusmit, a) You and me brother... b) You guys have my blessing to stumble all the way to the spring. Knock yourselves out, please! (At least you're in bet...
• Brusmit, Frankly, my efforts are mostly ineffective. However, I suspect I could belt them out pretty well in the National Capital. But as we both know, no o...
• Brusmit, I'm going to put aside my political affiliation before I respond: the opposition parties and the government are playing an exceedingly dangerous ga...
• Brusmit, Avec mes compliments! http://www.munkdebates.com/organizers/
• Brusmit, Please Brusmit -- Andrew Coyne is many things -- none of which includes a Liberal!
• Brusmit, You're ONLY 50% there. Kindly take ownership of the government's mishandling of this issue and you'll finally and honestly get to 100%.
• Brusmit, I certainly would. Perhaps this will jog your memory: http://andrewcoyne.com/2006/01/let-bloodletting-begin-tory-edition.php January 24, 2006 Le...
• Ursus, Please allow me to say that it is my fervent wish that you stick around here -- in more ways than one. You will give Brusmit a run for his money and ...
• Heasmit, I can quite honestly say with complete candor that your husband is one of a kind around here...Welcome to the other Dragon's Den.
• Heasmit, I, too, could ALMOST vote Conservative.
• Brusmit, Believe it or not, I actually was able to follow that! I think.
• Brusmit, Again, allow me to focus in: 'Here, then, for greater ease of purging, is the complete list of Conservatives "asking for Stephen Harper's resignat...
• Brusmit, I've always believed that like Harry Truman ( a great Taurus and role model for yours truly) that you COULD take the heat in the kitchen. Are you t...
• Brusmit, You must have missed it. My last performance as a Conservative took place on 31 December 2008. Apparently, it was rather flat and left the audience...
• Good Night Brusmit. Remember to keep sharpening that sword.
• Brusmit, Come on, you know every one of us went straight onto the black list. I suspect that still shades their opinion of the Prime Minister! (As a ca...
• Heasmit, I wouldn't dream of it.
• Typical Conservative, Forgive us if those of us who are skeptical of this Prime Minister continue to forge ahead. The only person whom I take on faith res...
• Heasmit, I hope this Prime Minister is smart enough to follow your wise counsel.
• Brusmit, I can't speak for the others, of course, but in my case I wasn't dumped. I was the dumpor rather than the dumpee. A minor point I grant you.
• Brusmit, I see your sword IS razor sharp.
• Brumit, We might as well drop it while we're both ahead...it seems the more I write on the subject, the more I potentially confuse both of us. My apologies!
• Prime Minister: Put Up Your Dukes! As a public service, not wanting our number one man to be caught off guard in foreign climes, I thought I would offer our...
• Brusmit, That's pure unadulterated BS and the overall body of scientific evidence will confirm it as such. I know you guys are desperate on this file (wit...
• Brusmit, It was my view and it remains so that the Governor-General was on solid legal ground when she reached her decision. Too bad for those of us who s...
• Brusmit, Thank you. Isn't life ironic how one can make one's name and destroy it -- all in the same day. Agree to generally held constitutional princi...
• Brusmit, It's none of the above. We all have a legitimate right to our opinion on climate change, flawed though it may be. The pure unadulterated BS refers ...
• Brusmit, No one is denying that there is monkey business here. The world will follow the investigation with great interest. Again, I'm sticking to my guns a...
• Brusmit, Thanks for the link. This is your lucky day! You are about to witness the most heart felt post that I've ever written on Nik on the NUMBERS: first...
• Brusmit, Let me make it easy for you: if the entire body of scientific evidence that has been accumulated since the 1980s is totally discredited, yes, yes, ...
• Brusmit, I can't and don't speak for Michael. Personally, I'll let the leader deal with the former in any way he sees fit. As for the latter, funny, but I h...
• I G N A T I E F F. That's how you spell victory in the next federal election. Michael may be low in the polls now but that will change as surely as night fo...
• Brusmit, Sorry, I did not realize that you meant Keith Martin.
• Brusmit, We both can be rather passionate on our issues...apologies if you took it personally. But you know me rather well by now. I'm not about to back dow...
• Brusmit, Unfortunately, that is precisely the point. The way things are going both of us are likely to be there. We both are aware that the sea ice in the A...
• Brusmit, Let me put it this way. The best interests, electoral or otherwise, of a political party are taken or decided with a level head. I'm for clear, rea...
• Brusmit, I might as well candidly admit that discussing your latest point in further detail is well above my pay grade. I will have to leave that to others.
• Copenhagen. What will be the end result? a) hard targets for GHG reductions; b) continued focus on aspirational targets; c) complete paralysis -- with no...
• Brusmit, If you talk with the PM today, please tell him for me to send his stylist up NORTH. That guy could really use some help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...
• Brusmit, There is no actual recent picture. You'd have to go to stock footage, if you know what I mean...and about whom. (Off to bed now for me. Must refre...
• Morning Brusmit, This will come as no surprise to you -- but even a herd of elephants won't move me off my position. Michael is the leader, and as such, h...
• To Whom It May Concern, One more minor point. Some people out there will argue that I'm a hypocrite. They will recall that Jamieson and yours truly moved ...
• Brusmit, Thanks again. I will let you know what I think sometime today (when I finally have a little time to give them the once over...).
• Brusmit, Read both. On the environment, I'm looking for the three-time award winner to do something to break the log jam. Surely, we can manage in some way ...
• Africon, I would put it to you that coat-tails only work when you're moving forward in a positive direction. In short, if Obama chooses not to swim -- he ...

The public opinion environment for Canadian-American relations (2009-11-19)

• Cooperation Without Integration. Some of you will be aware that Canada and the United States have tried many things in the past to smooth out the rough edge...
• Like Richard Nixon, It Seems We'll Very Soon Be Learning The Lesson The "HARD" Way. In the words of the man himself: "It's not the act that kills you. It's...
• The Political Constants In My Universe. As some of you know, I'm into my third political incarnation -- having gone from Progressive Conservative to Conserv...
• Brusmit, If you think we are a relatively low priority on the American radar (witness the recent performances of Janet Napolitano and John McCain), just wai...
• Brusmit, "Well" , as Ronnie would say! (I just couldn't resist.), you'll no doubt recall when I was pushing this government to play the energy card in respo...
• Brusmit, Surely you're not telling me that this PM is going to use our energy exports as leverage vis-à-vis Buy American. That is my understanding of the si...
• Brusmit, Perhaps you analysis of the effectiveness of that tactic is correct but hey, rattling their chain would certainly go some way in enhancing their co...
• Brusmit, But we are BOTH great guys! Just ask anyone who happens to know us.
• Brusmit, Sorry, no. But weren't the last two specialized? Wasn't one on the gun registry or am I mixing up polling companies?
• Brusmit, Perhaps I should try to get through to the PM so we can get you onto the negotiating team. Good one! (I'll bet more than one person in Ottawa woul...
• RRR, My concern is with process more than with outcome. I can live with something short of a public inquiry. I don't like the committee structure. As for o...
• RRR, I don't know about that. One should never look a gift horse in the mouth, especially a secured supply gift horse. Personally, I'm against withdrawal o...
• Brusmit, Thank you. (I'm slowly and inevitably going down hill, even at 48. It ain't easy being a fifth column of one!)
• Lex, I would also put Australia in that boat.
• Africon, Normally one would think that would present us with a strategic advantage -- but more knowledgeable people than myself have convinced me that we ca...
• Brusmit, You must by now have a pretty good idea of whom you're facing on this board. I would think THAT question answers itself. But the short answer is Y...
• Conservative Supporter, Our ideas about crime and punishment are deeply flawed. The two prevailing tendencies aren't nearly as effective as what is really...

Conservative lead continues, Harper widens best PM advantage: Nanos Poll (Completed November 10th) (2009-11-14)

• Brusmit. We will hold our fire until spring. Watch what happens then!
• Hollinm, Watch Peter. His time in the job will be memorable for Conservatives -- but not quite in the way they are hoping for!
• Eternally Optomistic, In short, NOPE. Warren is the crème de la crème in the war room. No one is more committed to the Liberal Party. Warren will make mince...
• Harper: In The Wrong Place At The Wrong Time! Poor Prime Minister. Out in Singapore, India and China when he should really be in the U.S. preparing to sit d...
• Polls Dont Count, You think so. We will prove otherwise. Just stay tuned.
• Polls Dont Count, It's Conservatives who are due for a rude awakening. And the best part -- they can't even conceive of its coming. As we say in French, "la...
• Polls Dont Count, Last time I checked, all your hopes were riding on one man. He managed to make it into office didn't he...
• Polls Dont Count, Is that the first indication of panic spreading across your keyboard? Not sufficiently clever as a retort.
• Polls Dont Count, Remember, hope springs eternal but so does determination!
• Polls Dont Count, Don't tell me, YOU'VE also left the Conservatives. Not a chance!
• The Pleasures Of Singapore. A tale of two guys -- one stuck in boring meetings while the other is free to roam across the countryside, blading to his heart'...
• Polls Dont Count, We are as one on this point.
• Laurie58, McKenna is a team player who has demonstrated his loyalty to the leader.
• Twiens, I'm no expert but I'm for at least a partial proportional representation system. I like majority governments but not oversized ones à la Mulroney. ...
• Hollinm, With respect, surely you can't deny that prior to 2006, our Prime Minister couldn't give away glasses of water in the central Canadian desert...cal...
• Hollinm, Smears and spin are the life blood of Canadian politics as presently practiced by all the parties. It's kind of hard not to notice...
• Hollinm, Surely you do not begrudge us because we keep plugging. Someone has to take you guys on.
• Hollinm, Did someone forget to tell this Prime Minister that it's small consolation stacking the Senate before you lose control of the Commons?! The electi...
• Hollinm, You'll have a better chance if you stick to present issues and controversies. Goes to reason, don't you think?
• Hollinm, Ha, ha! This Prime Minister is the real McCoy all right. I'm counting on that. He is rather predictable. No more advanced chess moves left for the ...
• Hollinm, I particularly like the way you put that: "protect Canada's interest on climate change." Forgive me, but it was my impression that this government ...
• Hollinm, The humble pie is baking. I plan to put Conservative icing on it! (Nice logo.)
• Tom, Respectfully, what strong message? The Conservatives got Cumberland-Colchester back in the fold after treating Casey like shit. Doesn't say much about ...
• Polls Dont Count, The knives will stay in their sheaths. We're in this game to form government. You know that. Were we to conduct an unseemly internecine wa...
• Polls Dont Count, Amateur acting does not behoove you...you need to take lessons. (Now, this Prime Minister. That's an actor of the highest calibre! Ask for...
• Polls Dont Count, I'm for Warren giving it the good old college try!
• Brusmit, I could debate with you but alas, I prefer to offer advice elsewhere. But quite candidly, I will admit that your offer is extremely tempting.
• Brusmit, You seem to have failed to notice the undergrowth of undecided that is thickening in the forest...
• Hollinm, Apparently, unlike you, I have faith in the companies I hold. I believe in their capacity to adapt to changing environmental circumstances. I also ...
• Hollinm, Forget trying to use Martin's record in today's political environment.
• Hollinm, Point one: yours truly was very much aware of the strong and effective business relationship between the PM and Doer. (That same relationship exist...
• Brusmit, Nice display of political confidence.
• Brusmit, I can understand how those numbers inspire such confidence in Conservatives. For our part, we will do whatever we can to shake that confidence for ...
• Brusmit, The Best PM Question is MEANINGLESS. We both know that. We have an incumbent government that is coasting along but basically standing pat (other th...
• Polls Dont Count, I'm so rich that I light my cigars with dollar bills. Please. I'm sure Irving and Doug are extremely sorry to hear that!
• Polls Dont Count, Public relations is not your strong suit, is it...better stick to your present job which at least you are rather good at.
• Tom, As always, your analysis is both excellent and farsighted. However, with respect, I find your conclusion as to a subsequent Harper "small majority" som...
• Brusmit, We Liberals are a giving fountain. And we will continue to bring forth the waters.
• Brusmit, Give your head a shake. Does the phrase tested versus as yet untested mean anything to you? Harper has a track record in government which inspires...
• Brusmit, That certainly is one man's opinion. I prefer to look at it as adversity from which opportunity can spring.
• Brusmit, For the sake of reasoned argument I will withdraw the former. As to the latter, it is in no way offensive to you or anyone else. It is a core princ...
• Tom, There goes my political career in Ottawa...but Michael is wrong to keep the platform under wraps until the election. It is our saving grace, our strong...
• Brusmit, One of us is right.
• Brusmit, Wasn't that James Bond? Perhaps not.
• Brusmit, Since you are in unusually fine form today, I have a question for you concerning Remembrance Day: I understand why Viet Nam is not inscribed on ou...
• Same to you.
• Hollinm, We are a federation. It would not be right for Alberta to take a major hit (or any other province or territory) for doing what is required to help ...
• Brusmit, Because I figured you would be both smart and considerate enough to respond. It has always puzzled me. I hope that someone does something to rectif...
• Thanks! But this is a job for MacKay, Thompson and their officials and staff.
• Hollinm, No sir. We are talking about global environmental sustainability. Move me to Edmonton or Calgary and I will still be making the same arguments. It'...
• Polls Dont Count, I will not defend Ontario's record. That's McGuinty's job. One can put manufacturing jobs ahead of the environment. That is not a choice t...
• Brusmit, Your conclusion logically flows from your premise. But let me take a stab at it nonetheless: I suspect that Canadians see us turning the corner on...
• Now you've done it Brusmit -- gotten me started on the registry! I support both the long and short gun registry. Quite obviously, I'm not a hunter and fortu...
• Bernie, It's clear that Ottawa does not want the whole story to come out for national security reasons. We are too busy protecting the intelligence operatio...
• Hollinm, Thank God we have honest to goodness Conservatives in their war room who would never in a million years stoop to smearing, lying, duplicity, red he...
• Brusmit, I hope you remembered to check whether you were building in an earthquake zone. They've been know to happen in Canada, don't you know!
• Bernie, I prefer a Canadian trial. What will happen in front of the military tribunal is anyone's guess. I'm not comfortable with that highly dubious venue....
• Tom, Like Buffet and his newly acquired railway (sorry Warren, railroad!), you have to be "all-in" if a new Senate is to be constructed from the ground up. ...
• Brusmit, I will concede one point to you. No matter if the Lord or Jesus came down and asked this government to repatriate Khadr, the answer would still be ...
• Brusmit, Both parties, quite obviously. It's a question of degree: when you are relatively error-free you rise AND THEN MAINTAIN. You don't drop or even dip...
• Brusmet, Here comes one hell of a compliment: you are a much braver man than yours truly. I would never take that risk. I would rather make a deal with Queb...
• Bernie, Welcome to the world of truisms in Canadian politics: All citizens and residents are forever in favour of increased rights, freedoms, enhanced demo...
• Brusmit, OK - read this later. If you mean past Liberal governments, of course you're correct. But Michael is not yet in government. A minor distinction bu...
• Tewchip, To be perfectly frank, income trusts is not a good example for either Conservatives or Liberals. Both governments flip-flopped, plain and simple. ...
• Tewchip, We will agree to disagree on this one.
• Tewchip, I'm off to work. Coming to the aid of someone with a kind heart who helped his neighbour and got screwed. (I guess nice guys do finish last.) In s...
• Tewchip, I will, when I get back. Have a nice day.
• Tewchip, Someone is indeed suffering from a serious wound but unfortunately, it was self-inflicted. It's one thing to clear the air and say the things that...
• Hollinm, Let me ask you a question. Do you consider what is likely to be proved as a terrorist act on 9-11-01 a war crime? I know I do. And yet the master...
• Hollinm, Another fine case of the pot calling the kettle black...
• Hollinm, What is really important is a question of degree. We will no doubt disagree as to which party has taken it to a new level. You know which one I'd...
• Hollinm, I will not dismiss your points. My point is we can do better and we should. If the Conservatives can't go the whole nine yards, can't they at lea...
• Brusmit, Neither you or I happen to be Warren Kinsella. In other words, neither of us will follow the course of action which you CLAIM Kinsella previously...
• Lex, Agreed but will the NDP number hold up in a campaign? Somehow I doubt it -- even if Jack announced his retirement prior to the spring.
• Brusmit, My number has nothing to do with Nanos or any other poll. I'm going with the percentage of voters who cast ballot for opposition parties in the r...
• Tom, Excellent post. I'm for equal Senate seats for every province and territory, like the U.S. Senate - if we are starting from scratch.
• Lex, If you do, we are all indebted to you. Thanks.
• Hollinm, I don't like it when any party chooses to sink really low, mine or otherwise. As for "we Americans", doesn't it sound to you like the comment ...
• Brusmit, I merely singled out the CPC for the period 2004-2008 because they are the governing party. I'm not disputing Nik's numbers in this particular p...
• Hollinm, That's certainly not how I would choose to frame it. But you have a right to draw your own conclusions...
• Brusmit, Thank you! Brusmit, your opinion on something else -- you know how I'm constantly pushing this government on climate change...to at least star...
• Africon, DOING NOTHING means continually harping on the lack of a past Liberal record. I don't care about Liberal inaction or Conservative inaction. I care ...
• Africon, My, my, did you also feel a nerve being struck! Look Africon, get this through your head. The next election could very well be a strategic voting e...
• Brusmit, Let's stick to general principles on this OK? Do you agree with me that it's the responsibility of the Canadian government, regardless of its polit...
• Brusmit, Fair enough. We are very much in agreement on several points. I want those mentioned in Colvin's testimony in committee to hear their side of the...
• Brusmit, You seem to like mine a lot more than I like yours! Thanks. But in all seriousness, I apologize and will try to be more diligent in the future.
• Brusmit, No, no. Sorry. It's yours truly who hasn't been clear. I thought you were referring to some of the previous questions, on other days, that I left...
• Hollinm, You aren't smug or overconfident. Too bad other Conservatives, many of them in the House, do not reflect your gentlemanly attitude. (Remember the...
• Angus Reid and Ipsos Reid Polls: Something Bad For Just About Everyone... What strikes me in general terms about Angus Reid, Ipsos Reid (and Ekos before the...
• Africon, Unlike you, I don't expect a split decision on the moderate to left-wing of the political spectrum. Party fortunes wax and wane but when push comes...
• Africon, Isn't it extremely fortunate for you that you don't happen to have a web page under your own name...otherwise you would be in scalding water after ...
• Africon, Politics in full of surprises. Of all people, you should know that.
• "Well", as Ronnie would say, to call the Father of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms "a disaster for the country" is at least over the top in my b...
• Brusmit, Huh? What does Dief's Bill of Rights have to do with any of this? Nothing. This is a discussion about a personal attack made on Trudeau. My point i...
• Brusmit, Let's be clear shall we? Diefenbaker is father of a Bill of Rights. That is indeed the first major piece of legislation in this area. Yes it preced...
• RRR, We'll both learn something when the election rolls around.
• RRR, No matter who happens to be in power, parliamentary committees sooner or later eventually revert to their true calling of showboating venue and occasio...
• Brusmit, If only I had an economics degree in order to be able to spar further on this point. Since I don't, I will concede the matter to you.
• Brusmit, We weren't yelling. That only happens when we capitalize all of the words in our respective sentences. You and I have what I could categorize as a ...
• Brusmit, As they say in the West, I know when I'm licked. I could start researching but without any level of personal expertise it would be quite an uphill ...
• Open Season For Comments! What do you think of CDS Walter Natynczyk's comments that Afghan prisoner transfers were stopped more than once -- contrary to wha...
• Brusmit, Very informative. Thanks.
• Eternally Optomistic, In Canada, for everything except going to the bathroom, we have to break a few eggs and we sure did.
• Brusmit, I love the Charter and thank God for it. But you know how human nature is -- if it had been the CPC in power and it found itself having to settle...
• Elf, They thought JFK would be good. He turned out only to be fast!
• Lex, Excellent post. Do you agree with me that because these people are going somewhere, it's reasonable based on past voting patterns (granted in the abs...
• Brusmit, Takes one to know one! What about the detentions? I'm stuck at the office. (Yipee...)
• Brusmit, Thanks! In front of committee is turning out to be a complete waste of time and energy. Both sides are more interested in scoring points then ...
• Brusmit, What a joke! Each side is posturing for the cameras: we both know this Prime Minister -- the guy is doing everything but personally taking potenti...
• Brusmit, Doesn't take a genius to know who moved heaven and earth to authorize this "leak". A nice piece of advanced chess strategy. Skillfully thought out ...
• Brusmit, Correct me if I'm wrong but it's my distinct impression that Colvin can't take even a restricted document out of his briefcase. He needs permission...
• Brusmit, Yes they have been known to happen. Go figure. The only thing that can extend this is what falls under the category of unforeseen variables from u...

Nanos Policy Options Poll – Canadians overwhelmingly support universal health care; think Obama is on right track in United States (2009-11-06)

• So Thoroughly Disgusted. That just about sums it up about the current turn of events in Quebec. Yes, it's enough to quite literally turn my stomach. As...
• Brusmit, See you. (Unless I happen to drop dead.)
• HC in AB, Who knows...but my job is still to be a thorn and I intend to live up to it! Happy Holidays to all.
• Hollinm, Thank you. Let me put out two scenarios for you: with turnout at 37% in Montmagny, we both know that Conservative voters can't be beat when it co...
• Brusmit, Well, neither of us will be foolish enough to take that article to the bank...as we've agreed in the past, the death of the Bloc -- we'll both re...
• Ron's Miracle Anti-Depression Cure! Do I know something about politics or what? This should make me boat loads of money: are you feeling blue? Are politic...
• Bernie, I may not be a social democrat but I agree with you that there is one hell of a lot of needless suffering out there...the unfortunate and the disa...
• Elf, Back in the Stone Age, I wrote a prize winning essay on assisted suicide. (I was against it but even then I said that was easy for me since "I was no...
• Elf, Exceedingly well said. One proviso, we're dealing with leaders and not saints -- former PMs got down in the mud even in our party... Michael is be...
• Bernie, Brusmit strikes me as rather stressed out at the moment. He seems to have a lot on his plate right now. He should get some badly needed sleep. ...
• Brusmit, You seem to have a funny idea of what truly is an insult. IF you consider my remarks an insult, from now on all I'll do is ask you how the weathe...
• Lex, It's a good thing you're not running for office. Your analysis strikes me as rather dispassionate and cold. No offense intended.
• Brusmit, Unlike at least one other poster on this board I KNOW how to apologize. Quite obviously, you have taken offense. Therefore I unreservedly apologize...
• Brusmit, You make far too much of so-called Liberal disarray and internal plotting. Naturally, in your shoes, I might be sorely tempted to do the same. Wa...
• Brusmit, You amuse me when you deliberately go out of your way not to face reality. You are among the most politically sophisticated on this board. (Another...
• Brusmit, Liberals get it. Stay unified or prepare for eternity in opposition. It really is as simple as that. Just ask Bob. He knows instinctively how to pr...
• Brusmit, Keep propelling the myth and gloom-doom scenario. After all, it just so happens to be in your own best interest, political and otherwise. What a st...
• Brusmit, That's the great thing about being the official opposition. Nothing like doing the job.

Nanos National Poll: Conservatives widen advantage over Grits: Nanos Poll (Completed October 18th) (2009-10-22)

• All Is "Right" In The World! I'm all for genuine peace, love and harmony. I always thought that making up is, just like the song says, hard to do...but appa...
• Lady Macbeth for President... The runoff is coming in Kabul and across the country in two weeks. Afghan President Hamid Karzai strikes me as a man with few ...
• So Close And Yet Quite Fortunately, So Far! The political gods seem to be with us - smile Michael. Try as he might, this Prime Minister can't find the magic...
• HC in AB, I'm shocked to discover that some people in Alberta see Michael as a pretend cowboy. In Quebec, we see Stephen as a pretend defender of the Quebec...
• Tom, I take a stab at it on my blog, if you're interested.
• Syl, The idea that a prime minister, of any political stripe, can get a sustained and significant bump up in the polls just because he "presided" over the O...
• Brusmit, Part I: The only interesting part: "...were an election to be held today,..." Gee, sorry about that! Talk to me about the polls come spring. Part...
• Whirlwind, Glad to see you back. This place hasn't quite been the same since your absence. Look forward to continuing crossing swords with you.
• NL_Expatriate, Agreed. But at least we will eventually enjoy a pleasant change -- when eventual demographics shift the Tyranny of the majority population ov...
• Please, Allow Me! Due to unseasonably warm weather which has generated considerable unforeseen heat, perhaps I can help by unloading a troublesome bridge ov...
• Hollinm, Jack is already gone. Michael has to win at least a minority while Stephen must win a majority. Thought I would keep it simple! Anything less and t...
• Fun With A Wildrose! This Prime Minister doesn't want to talk about it -- in fact, the word has gone out to keep it shut. No wonder. Wildrose seems to be an...
• Put A Spade In Their Hands...And They KEEP Digging For The Next Bonehead Play. Perhaps some time off would help because this one won't be pretty. Witness th...
• But Lex, that's precisely the point. I WANT them to do something foolish! I'm for destabilizing this government. Anything that could possibly contribute towa...
• Anti China, I hate to break it to you but I've voted for JC! (Before I joined the PCs.) You remember how popular this Prime Minister was when he was Allianc...
• Michael, I don't want to denigrate anyone but thank you for doing what had to be done. Welcome aboard Peter! We look forward to the turnaround. I suspect ...
• Brusmit, You forgot to address the issue of lawyer-client privilege!
• Brusmit, I'm actually impressed. You've been extremely thorough. I've rarely seen this PMO more effectively engaged in damage control... Thank God the PMO'...
• Brusmit, Unrelated: If you happen to run into CanadianSense please remind him that the dating poll is flawed. They forgot the most important category which ...
• Brusmit, Thank you but we're talking different fruit. I was referring to CanadianSense's whom would you like to date poll (president or prime minister). As ...
• Brusmit, I think actions speak louder than words. Michael has every confidence in Peter. That means that Bob is on board regarding this appointment. That al...
• Brusmit, Like you, I don't deny PAST facts! (I'm not saying your version of same is 100% gospel but conversely, I'm also not saying that your version is 100...
• Something To Bear In Mind. Richard: Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer by this son of York; And all the clouds that low'r'd upon our h...
• Quebec Votes Today In Municipal Elections. You know me. I like to take a stab at things -- to go with my gut feeling and see how it turns out! So here it g...
• Syl, You should see the latest body language coming from Gérald Tremblay. It doesn't strike me as that of a winner. I think he's blown it -- and that he kno...
• Syl, I have an occasional habit of working against my own professional, political and personal interest and this comment won't be an exception. I entirely r...
• Syl, We are as one on that score!
• Syl, On this one I hope that you are right but call me skeptical. That is not how I would play it -- but I'm not the boss, so I will fall into line but ke...
• Hollinm, One theory I heard, which may have some merit, is that Bergeron was dismissed by many because of his peculiar theories about 9-11-01 and the heal...
• Hollinm, One more thing. The broom happened to do a lot of sweeping on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence river and elsewhere. Many incumbent mayors go...
• Tornado, Why do you keep changing names? You're among friends here!
• Hollinm, You will understand that it's our job to keep up the good fight. If the roles were reversed, you wouldn't do anything less, would you?
• Syl, This Prime Minister needs to have his head examined for congratulating Karzai. That government in Kabul is a complete farce: corrupt, ineffectual, ir...
• Brusmit, This was not a sit down interview. It was person in the street. How were the other people identified who happened to be interviewed? Context a...
• Brusmit, I'm rather generic on this at the moment. Let's wait before scheduling the execution for further developments, if you don't mind... I'll no do...
• Brusmit, For my part, I will be following it closely -- I hope none of the Conservatives showboating, eh, eh, I mean howling in righteous indignation will...
• Brusmit, You didn't exactly fall off the turnip truck yesterday...I've got a news flash for you - every politician, of every political stripe, plays polit...
• Brusmit, This isn't up there with Campbell's fatal error.
• Brusmit, Nuance...remember, Martin never authorized the airing of that ad but it did "run" on newcasts.
• Hollinm, I will be equally clear - I want all civilians out, CIDA included in 2011. Time to go. That price is no longer worth paying (sustainable). As sur...
• Now Brusmit! First, I concede the point on the ad. I was not aware/did not recall about a similar ad running in Quebec. You've scored a point on that one....
• Agreed.
• Hollinm, Again, agreed. We are rather sympatico today. Here's hoping for more of the same via another channel!
• Brusmit, Respectfully, nice try. But you will probably agree with me that Canadian blood was not been spilled on a regular basis in China...to my mind, ou...
• Brusmit, We're suddenly talking apples and oranges again. One cannot equate conventional warfare (the World Wars) with the current conflict in Afghanistan...
• Brusmit, Perhaps not in your book but these factors are DIRECTLY relevant in mine. See you.
• Hollinm, Correct me if I'm wrong but haven't we been in Afghanistan since 2001-02? I know we first went in under Chrétien. (I know I should Google it but ...
• Hollinm, Perhaps I'm really living in a fool's paradise (as Brusmit has implied) but I want us to get out of our aid committment ASAP. Who cares if the UN...
• My apologies -- forgot the Dutch.

Nanos National Poll - Canadians don't want a fall election; Majority preferred but minority expected (Completed September 11) (2009-10-01)

• The Medical Diagnosis Is Finally In. The Pension Democrats: present in their seats but brain dead...
• The Silence Is Deafening. You'll notice that Conservatives are quite good at following orders -- those that don't stick with the program soon discover what ...
• Conservatives: Give Senator Don Plett A Call! Once you get over the shock of reading today's paper, ask Don what he thinks. For those of you who missed it...
• Thanks Jack! I want to thank Jack and other Pension Democrats for the generous early Christmas present they've given to Liberals -- they of all people recog...
• Tommies, Of course, Canadians are Canadians, even when they vote Conservative!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I've done that a fair bit in the past MYSELF but I've l...
• Lex, Don't tell this Prime Minister. He's liable to flood the blog (like he did CTV National News!) with political tidbits...
• Lex, I was referring to "Just Visiting" which was more or less running in tandem with the EAC but far less frequently. Jack's ad is ridiculous consider...
• Lex, To carry your argument one step further: if you're right (and you may well be) we Liberals are in trouble. Strategic Counsel is the first of the bad ...
• Elf, But won't take make for a very gassy chamber? I don't know about you but I would tend to have some pity for his or her seat mates!
• Elf, I don't do sucking up, even to potential voters! That is a disqualifier. Jamieson can confirm that from the good old days. My favourite operator is E...
• The Two Most Well Massaged Words In The English Language: Conservative MAJORITY. I've got to hand it to this Prime Minister. The man is one clever operato...
• Lex, I don't want to preach regarding my own conclusions. Those who view these two issues as important should follow them closely and then draw their own co...
• Tommies, I'm not sad but yes, I'm concerned over recent developments. Of course the polls will come back especially given the fact that this Prime Minister ...
• Lex, You're getting good at making holes that I can drive a truck through. Did you learn that from our Prime Minister???!!! I oppose hate speech in par...
• Again, Lex, it may come to that but I prefer to look at procedural reform first -- surely we can ensure that the principles of natural justice are effectivel...
• Hollinm, Michael is the leader. He has to ACT like one. That means being absolutely ruthless with EVERYONE. He has to make sure that the drip, drip theory d...
• Bernie, I've never subscribed to the "hidden agenda" bullshit which I viewed and still do as desperate Chicken Little tactics. However, I'm deeply troubled ...
• Thank God For The Queen... Constitutional scholars rejoice! The debate is raging as to who is actually Canada's Head of State. The booming PMO reminds us th...
• Hollinm, Just think back what is was like for our Prime Minister when he was leader of the Alliance -- he was almost a pariah east of the lakehead...but as ...
• Hollinm, Agreed. The coming six months will be a watershed moment for at least one of us! May the better strategist win. I concede in advance that it may no...
• Hollinm, One more thing. You're underestimating Michael -- I can think back to Harper's Hippodrome speech in Quebec City in 2004 (later known as the Belgian...
• Tommies, Quite obviously, the Prime Minister found his groove in 2006...it took two years to win power. I don't expect anything less of Michael. He could qu...
• A Harper Thanksgiving? I know this is last minute and all but you know how the holidays are for spending quality time with the people who are most important...
• Elf, Is it your impression that the G-G won't be renewed? The last one had her term extended. Might not be a bad idea to try that solution again.
• Those Pesky Conservative Symbols... I wonder if this Prime Minister is about to send me a cheque -- after all, it seems everyone else is getting one respl...
• Elf, The smart thing would be to renew her. Harper's choice, given that he makes one, might turn out to be more telling than he originally intended. A wis...
• Lex, A lot of somebodies screwed up. Now watch as the hunt begins for the directives.
• Lex, Inspiring possible choice -- the Prime Minister's one-time boss. It's no secret that the relationship is good and mutually respectful but I wouldn't ca...
• Hollinm, To be perfectly frank, I find some merit in your argument but my overall sense is that it will cut both ways.
• Hollinm, This Prime Minister is a big fan of advance by incrementalism. Watch the numbers carefully. Something is beginning to brew in the heartland.
• Hollinm, We've both noticed considerable Conservative momentum in recent polls. I hope you don't mind but I'd rather not add to it!
• Hollinm, It could get even better if I opened my big mouth...
• Hollinm, There are things of interest which we could discuss but this is not one of them. You might want however to speak to my friend the senator. It cou...
• Hollinm, Rivard. He knows nothing about it so far but I want to use him as a go between. Thanks for your time. Have a nice weekend.
• Syl, The press is making the same mistake it made with Chrétien and even Harper. They are fools if they think they can write us off. Michael is in better...
• Think Laskin, Think Alberta Gambit. Apologies ahead of time to those who are about to read this post -- you might want to make an appointment with your doct...
• A Year Of Cognitive Dissonance. Welcome to Harper Day! You remember it well -- that's when the voting public returned this government with an increased mino...
• Michael, Election or no election, I'm looking for the platform. Does any reasonable person really think that a plank representing traditional Liberal values...
• Duffinator, I would say that we've reached a new level. This is much more of an ouch than an oops. First, Afghan prisoners being tortured after being handed...
• Duffinator, Would it not be more than ironic if alleged violations turn out to be against this government's own jewel in the crown -- the Accountability Act...
• Duffinator, No question heads will roll on this one. I doubt Peter's head will be on the block though. That would damage this government's credibility too m...
• Duffinator, One this point, we agree to disagree. One thing is certain. One of us is definitely right!
• Duffinator, You have categorized my position correctly. Think about it -- the crappy ads worked to define Dion and to some extent Michael. But they won't ha...
• Sorry, wrong vile. I'm starting to lose it...
• Reformer, You don't seem to be very keen on China. Let me tell you a little story. A while back I was madly in love with a woman. She was of a different eth...
• Alittlebirdie, Excellent post. CPC = RMS Titanic; FAA= Iceberg. Guess which one I'm laying odds on.
• Climate Change Act. Poor Jack. He's out in lala land if he thinks that this government will vote for the bill on Wednesday. However, I suspect it will have ...
• Ha! Ha! Jack has me over a barrel. My apologies to Jack. The vote on Wednesday is to DELAY the bill. That's what you get when you post without fact checking....
• Lex, Can you believe it, I actually forgot about his election announcement technique. Your points are well taken but you do agree with me that to do nothing...
• Lex, What is more incredible is that this government does not back the science which at this point strikes me as beyond legitimate scientific debate...the m...
• Ontario24, How anyone can support this government's environmental policy is beyond me. This government has no problem with playing Russian roulette with the...
• Thank You, Prime Minister. I want to thank our Prime Minister for taking the time to place a phone call to Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Words fail me to e...
• Lex, Of course, you are absolutely right about the big emitters. It was my impression that the Big Four are FINALLY moving in the right direction. It was al...
• Lex, Call me patently irresponsible but I'd rather take my chances on the ground in Canada with the terrorists.
• Lex, It's rather comforting to know that you have our best interests close to your heart! Much appreciated.
• A Spring Election? The defining moment of this Parliament is likely to come this spring when the budget is tabled. The Athletes' and Olympics Party...oh sor...
• Brusmit, You're right, it will be interesting but not quite as interesting for Conservatives as it is now! Just call me Chrétien when it comes to political ...
• Brusmit, I know that Stock got it wrong about the direction of the river but let me put it this way: if a majority government was downriver from the Horsesh...
• A Message For The Prime Minister. You might want to consider getting the Health Minister to update Canadians on the status of Peramivir. For the benefit of ...
• Brusmit, I don't much care what Canadians want at any given time. At all times, the country has to come first. Conservatives believe it's in Canada's best i...
• Brusmit, My dear sir or madam, opinions are not facts! Election night returns are facts. Polls are polls, nothing more -- a mere snapshot in time. Agreed t...
• Brusmit, Those words are NOT a Liberal Party position. They are merely an O'DOWD position...
• Brusmit, Nice of you not to say p.....g contest at lunch time. Have a good one!
• Brumit, Try this one on for size: We will do absolutely nothing to be a good steward of our environment. We will put the private sector profit motive ahead...
• Brusmit, You always have to get the last word don't you. Rather telling. Must have something to do with the inferior nature of your environmental argument. ...
• Brusmit, Please allow me to replicate one of your most thoughtful quotes: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
• Brusmit, Please allow me to replicate one of your most thoughtful quotes: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
• Brusmit, My limitations may prove of some interest to you further down the political road.
• Lex, Agreed. Saving lives has to be Job One. I commend the Minister for her excellent work. Now, it's up to the PM to help get this particular duck in a row...
• Brusmit, You have a very high opinion of your capabilities. Why am I not surprised...in any event, you are certainly no Ronald Reagan (not even in your fond...
• Brusmit, Now if you want to be civil and discuss NANOS from yesterday and EKOS from this morning, I'm willing to oblige but for once in your life, you have ...
• Brusmit, Not that well informed so far. Have made only a cursory examination. Plan to address you post later today, if you're interested. Over and out, for...
• Brusmit, I think it's safe to say with complete credibility that this is indeed the new polling trend. For my part, I've seen enough polls to confirm it. To...
• Brusmit, Nanos: A five point Conservative lead in Ontario is an achievement. We can chip away at it somewhat but in my view, our main focus has to be the s...
• Lex, Doesn't each party have a federal charter? How would you classify it?
• Elf, Peter knows he has many talents politically but he also well knows the political "limitations" built into the system. He knows the Conservative Party j...
• Elf, Our friend is a worthy opponent. We will never make the mistake of underestimating him. We have much work to do but sooner or later we will be sufficie...
• Elf, Lex and I have an entente cordiale without World War I! Lex comes from Reform. I came from the PCP. We understand each other, most of the time. I'm a ...
• Brusmit, Nice one. You know we can't simply go left. Dion went left and lost. We need to pick up on the left but we also need to chip away at Harper to the ...
• Likewise. Regards.
• Who Is That Ronald O'Dowd? Who does that blowhard Ronald O'Dowd think he is? Boy, is he ever full of himself. Haven't seen that much hot air since the Hinde...
• Elf, I met Belinda several times. Like Harper she is a fighter. She should have stood and held her ground. I supported her leadership bid. But then again, a...
• Brusmit, A Liberal NPD merger is not on. That would be an indictment of the political center that is the glue in federal politics. That would ensure perpetu...
• Brusmit, I'm growing increasingly fond of you (in a political way)! Like me, you just keep on plugging. LOL.
• So Many Heads and No Available Crowns... What a sight for sore sighs...three men who would be king, each of them without access to a most coveted crown. T...

Nanos National Poll - Canadians prefer controlled stimulus; Harper scores well on issue management (Completed September 11) (2009-09-24)

• Tom, I'm very sorry to hear that you are coming around to Harper's position on the party political subsidy. As you may know, I left the Conservatives over t...
• Writching, Personally, I would rather drop dead than be governed by this Prime Minister with a majority mandate. Hopefully, as in the past, the voters thems...
• Hollinm, Wow, that must mean that I'm half-stupid!
• Nik, I feel sorry for those 64% of Canadians who prefer controlled stimulus to further improve our economy: this politically sophisticated Prime Minister, a...
• Malaise. A vague feeling of [political] discomfort. I don't like it one damned bit. I'm starting to get excited -- I'm already well beyond irritated. Hell, ...
• HC in AB, Is it fair to say that we are both in agreement that this funding will never make it to the deadline? Should we find ourselves: a) smack in the mi...
• Sorry. I only meant in jest that as a former Conservative, others might consider me half-stupid. Just trying to be funny but it appears that comedy is not my...
• HC in AB, We may be heading for a political wash -- in other words, Conservatives rise incrementally but strangely enough, so do Liberals as the soft NDP mo...
• HC in AB, A wise Conservative pundit once said we should watch out for the unexpected blunder. That could seal the campaign for one party and produce a smal...
• The Prince, Try studying the political tactics of Stephen Harper. They quickly teach you everything you need to know. If this Prime Minister wins a majority...
• Tewchip, Your point is well taken but I presume you will concede that as soon as the Pension Democrats establish a regular pattern of propping up the Harper...
• HC in AB, You're a fine strategist! If you're right that means no support for our Liberal motion for at least a year and perhaps a year and a half. This P...
• HC in AB, The other thing of course will be this government's relationship with the public service: are they on side, neutral or hostile. If it's the latt...
• Lex, We can debate the merits of stimulus per se as an effective economic tool. What interests me is which party is smart enough to use it effectively for...
• HC in AB, Well, that would depend on the bones -- and the quality of the dog...
• Lex, In the short term, there is no question that this Prime Minister wants a yes -- in the intermediate term, I suspect that the PM is wavering: he wants J...
• Tommies, "...and never signed anything to reverse it-...". Now there's an interesting thought.
• Tewchip, This Prime Minister is under no illusions about this minor and insignificant Liberal! He knows his people have better things to do than to waste ...
• Elf, I posted a while back on Reagan vs. Mondale in the presidential debate. Mondale said Reagan won't tell you that he'll raise your taxes but will have to...
• Elf, Before I joined the Progressive Conservatives, I voted for Chrétien. I'd have to look it up to see how many times but I do remember why: he had a talen...

Nanos Economic Monitor - Confidence in economy up - but Canadians still worse off than a year ago (2009-09-21)

• Hollinm, I may be wrong but both questions have to do with delaying bills. I have a very vague memory of 180 days as a maximum but I'm too lazy to do the ...

Harper widens leadership advantage over Ignatieff: Nanos Poll (Completed September 11th) (2009-09-14)

• Elf, The tide is turning. Not only can they not see it but better for us, they cannot even conceive it! Our day is coming and a lot faster than conventional...
• Hollinm, Haven't you heard? We Liberals have a new favourite drink...it's called "The Jack Fizzle"! It's bound to do wonders for our political health. Just ...
• Hollinm, I don't do squirm, remember. I've just got a big job ahead of me. One that I relish. Remember, I've been working hard for quite some time now!
• Diagnostician, Did you put Harper and magnanimous in the same sentence? God, I must need new glasses.
• Lex, Can you really type with a straight face and make the bogus argument that this Prime Minister knows how to work together with anyone? Au contraire, th...
• Lex, A direct quote: "Could the Liberals make it more clear that they're interested only in gaining power and not in governing well than they have by pre-e...
• The Nanos Report. Congratulations! Just caught the premiere episode of TNR -- it was excellent. I look forward to many fine programs and encourage everyone...
• Hollinm, Perhaps. Perhaps not!
• Hollinm, Thanks for the update.

Nanos National Poll - Canadians' views on minority governments and Harper's re-election a mixed bag (2009-08-22)

• Will We Ever Break Out Of Neck and Neck? The upcoming polls should be fascinating. Someone is about to break from the pack once political reality sets in......
• Syl, Thank you. I hope to keep it civil, challenging and intense. If it works right it will be a strategist's paradise -- particularly when one of us is r...
• Howie, Your contribution will be appreciated.

Nanos National Poll - Economy slides as an issue of concern - no political dividend for Conservatives, yet. (2009-08-10)

• That Big Goose Egg Is Called... Buy American. Yes folks, our Prime Minister struck out at bat at the North American Summit...as I predicted, Casey got nowh...
• Jack, I'm revolted that the public purse is paying money to Stephen Harper's party but you won't see me trying to cancel it! I believe in as level a playing...
• AD_REM, Looking forward to you guys losing!
• Jack, He can't help it. The devil made him do it.
• AD_REM, You should have a chat with the PM. The only thing he and I have in common is that we are both REALISTS. Harper knew going in that he would get nowh...
• AD_REM, That was a left hook. I meant the upcoming election.
• AD_REM, Yeah right. For every dollar the three other parties raise, you can bank nine or ten. Sounds good to me...remember, I was born yesterday.
• AD_REM, You sure seem awfully confident that we will pull the plug without a platform. Interesting.
• Hollinm, Nice to see you. You know how Conservatives are more than convinced that we Liberals are quite simply just another boy who will cry wolf once too o...
• Ontarian, I remain extremely bullish because I don't like the moniker of Dion II. It strikes me as strategically dangerous but then again, what do I know......
• Jack, I have no quarrel with what you've posted.
• Non-aligned in Toronto, Leadership means going to the polls this fall. Period.
• RichardG, They can't save this government unless Harper leaves -- and that will never happen. After that, the Alberta Clipper will become the party's next l...
• AD_REM, On this point I will use the following term: respectfully, you're dreaming. Nothing will come out of the White House and certainly not Congress in t...
• AD_REM, Touché. And for once, you are much too kind.
• AD_REM, No comment!
• AD_REM, You know me well enough by now to know what will happen -- or should I say not happen if there is no election this fall. I'll be out for good. A lot...
• AD_REM, For once in my life, my heart will be with Harper on this file. It's in the interest of all Canadians.
• AD_REM, Ancient history!
• AD_REM, I can look after my own hugs, thank you.
• AD_REM, I won't have the energy if the wrong strategic decision is taken. It's that simple.
• STILL ancient history as long as the pattern is not repeated.
• I'm active until the fall. After that it's hibernation time if the CPC is still the government.
• That should be until the end of fall.
• AD_REM, We'll both be watching attentively.
• Not with a body like this!
• Hollinm, Of course I favour money for the Conservatives even though I'm revolted. It has to go to all parties in the interest of fairness. I understand your...
• AD_REM, Forgive me if I remain skeptical.
• Hollinm, I'm still pushing for fall but we both know what the powers that be think of my argument -- not to mention the person advocating for it...
• AD_REM, OK it is -- but now we've become fourteen afterthoughts in Washington D.C. rather than one.
• AD_REM, I'm certainly not arguing otherwise but given the overall protectionist climate (à la softwood -- the "best" bad deal we could get and HAD NO CHOI...
• Ontarian, In spite of its name, I hope Daisy gets flooded with roses from people who are not obvious Liberals, like yours truly. Now that would be an i...
• Ontarian, They could call themselves plus bleu que bleu au Québec. As someone who has already lived it, I ain't holding my breath...
• Putting Canadians First. I feel a rant coming on, so here goes -- call me particular but I believe in putting the interests of Canada first. I'm for busting...
• Naughty Mr. Blue! Mr. Blue, of The Blue Network, says Mr. Plett and Mr. Finley are Liberals. Makes me wonder what he's planning to call Mr. Stephen Harper. ...
• AD_REM, I do. Remember, what is important about the Olympic runner is that he or she bears the torch...the catalyst is right in front of our faces, waiting...
• AD_REM, Indira forgot the most precious group: those who willingly take the blame when it all goes to hell in a handbasket. Truman may have said "The Buck S...
• The Globe and Mail Joins The "Herd"... It's thinking like this that keeps parties in opposition: As next month's return of Parliament draws near, specu...
• Is The Blue Network In Search Of "True-Blue" Senators? What's holding up the show? Shouldn't our Prime Minister have smugly announced the Senate smorgasbo...
• 1285 Days Is More Than Enough. I've got a song that won't stop buzzing in my brain. It goes something like this: Words & music by paul simon Slip sl...
• Divorce: Harper Style! Well, well, isn't this just about as predictable at it gets. Our Prime Minister seems to be a bit thin-skinned these days. Can't fo...
• It's Either Bye Bye Buy American Or Bye Bye Stephen Harper. That's it in a nut shell. The Prime Minister will bust his ass trying to get concessions out o...
• Poor AD_REM, You're the only guy who doesn't see it. Trudeau's, Turner's, Chrétien's and even Martin's record have been warped into a parallel universe. Y...
• AD_REM, Must be nice living in the past and counting on yesterday's news as a source of potential political revival. In other words, this Prime Minister has...
• Bernie, The last one I received was from Sylvie Boucher. The CPC could get better odds in Quebec if they relied on divine intervention...instead of 10%ers. ...
• AD_REM, You really missed your true calling. You would make a great analyst. Of course, you haven't a clue where I'm coming from. Nice yarn though -- if it ...
• AD_REM, My motto has always been when circumstances provide power, you use it -- and not just as leverage. I've had many fine successes in politics by using...
• Khadrizing This Prime Minister. Some people are known as lovable grumps -- others not. If you happen to run into our Prime Minister this weekend, prudence s...
• Ontarian, Amen brother. And God Bless Us Everyone! Harper had better program his GPS for Calgary.
• AD_REM, If it will make you happy, I will repeat what I thought was OBVIOUS by now: the Harper government position is an extension of the Martin government ...
• Now, now AD_REM, I did not say it's automatic that the SCC will rule in Ottawa's favour. On humanitarian grounds, I would like to see him repatriated to Ca...
• AD_REM, You know how it goes: Get ready; Get set; Go.
• Путешествие в тысячу миль начинается с одного шага.
• AD_REM, That's any easy one. As SOON as they become available.
• Come on AD_REM, You of all people can take it. I've never met anyone on this site who dishes it out better than you do. You have no equal. These newly creat...
• AD_REM, You have no confidence in our tea leaves. That is as it should be. What matters is whether we have confidence in them. The day you have confidence ...
• AD_REM, You're an old hand at this...you know what that means. It's called scouting out future terrain.
• Velma_Kincaid, Does this mean we aren't dealing with the political reincarnation of Harry Truman?
• Thank you Warren Kinsella. (over at WK.com) I saw that squirrel on Canada AM. Now he's (shouldn't presume without a visual inspection but I digress) at the ...
• Velma_Kincaid, Call me presumptuous, arrogant, a fool, what have you -- but my gut says it hasn't been a matter of if, but merely of when for quite some tim...
• AD_REM, You really are deep.
• Wasn't that the New [delete] Democratic Party?
• In Vancouver We Had Parnel. I was grateful to Parnel for giving us an assessment of what was happening each day at the convention. Strangely enough, no one ...
• AD_REM, Η νίκη δεν έρχεται προς την άτολμη.
• AD_REM, Нападение собака знает свою миссию.
• Celui qui ose récolte les bénéfices.
• AD_REM, Yes, I read that this morning. This paragraph is indeed key: If one is not a partisan, this is a very difficult question to answer: Why should Mr. ...
• AD_REM, You sure don't know how to accept a compliment...
• AD_REM, You can't figure me out, even after all this time. I thought our discourse would have been somewhat enlightening. Oh well. In any event, you can re...
• AD_REM, You don't even have to ask. I'm solid for the good, bad or the ugly. Enjoy the ride.
• AD_REM, If you guys happen to lose, let's make it clear right now that I won't be rubbing shit in anyone's face. Not my style. Even defeated prime minister...
• AD_REM, Thank you. But hey, if I had the "magic", wouldn't I already be sitting in Ottawa...
• AD_REM, Careful AD_REM. I can feel another of those advance chess pieces moving!
• Where Harper Has Me Bested. I hope the Prime Minister remembers to pat a few penguins for me when he's up there this week. For the life of me, I can't figur...
• You think.
• AD_REM, It still strikes me as a net wash (oh forgive me for that) when you factor in Global Warming into the mix.
• Dear Nik, You see where this is going...it isn't a pretty picture. You might want to consider shutting down the blog. Frankly, I'm tired of it all and woul...
• My Last Post. I want to go out on a high note. What I want to say has nothing to do with politics -- au contraire, it has to do with what is best in the Can...
• Seeker, Thank you for your kind words and the same to everyone else who left recent comments. There simply comes a point where one says enough is enoug...

Nanos National Poll - Strengths and Weaknesses of the Liberal Party (2009-07-03)

• Tom, The proof will be in the pudding. Most of us are waiting to see what is ultimately rolled out.
• Nik, A couple of things: even though the Conservatives form the government and have a track record on which to base one's opinions, do these responses als...
• Informed1, All of this is balloons in the sky. As the platform is released, we will see how it is perceived. It will either be a hit or a miss. Either way...
• Syld, It had better. I don't like the direction this country has been going in these last three and a half years. Liberals have to remember that it is the t...
• Informed1, I supported the Conservatives until December. You will no doubt recall that even before that, as a Red Tory (you remember them -- the people who ...
• Informed1, You have no equal when it comes to massaging the message: how convenient for you to forget that one of those "Liberal hacks" was given an extende...
• Informed1, Because as I've bored you and others before...when you fight the next war with the last's tactics (and rhetoric) -- plain and simple, YOU LOSE. ...
• Informed1, I would have thought that the Quebec campaign was an obvious choice. As for Liberal execution, I need to see red meat before the next election....
• Informed1, Nothing like a man who recognizes thin ice when he sees it...
• Yes it's entirely fair. As a six-month Liberal, I can't tell you why. We both agree that the Liberal road ahead has to have specifics laid out. We'll see it...
• Informed1, Each party has to get its vision across.The party whose vision clearly and enthusiastically resonates with the voters will get to form the next g...
• Informed1, I have no problem with manadatory minimums but not across the board. I believe in judicial discretion -- latitude to confront particular circum...
• Where Have You Gone Oh Blue Sweater! Our Prime Minister is many things -- some good, some not. You know, one thing we can say for sure about him is that h...
• Informed1, I do not find these provisions unreasonable but I will want to hear what the witnesses before the Standing Committee have to say before I take ...
• Informed1, Of course they are delaying bills beyond sobre second thought. That is their JOB as an independent chamber. They are an opposition, albeit unel...
• Strategic Counsel: Time To Push For A Fall Election. Liberal momentum has ended and so has the honeymoon. Ask yourself why? Some will argue it is because ...
• Informed1, You guys have the upper hand. I'm hoping to help change that. We'll see. But as we both agree, a Liberal platform has to be on the table sooner...
• Syld, You put that so nicely - "unsettled". Sounds like conflicted. I think we can bridge the gap with our starting measure, i.e. the beginnings of the pl...
• Informed1, SC is an excellent pollster. Like most of us here, I was aware of Peter's background. While it is always true that one poll does not a trend m...
• Informed1, Like you, I'm worried about A H1N1 particularly now that we may have a strain mutation in Hong Kong that may not be effectively treated by Tami...
• Informed1, On this one, I know you will live up to your moniker: here are the titles of the two latest abstracts from the New England Journal of Medicine:...
• Informed1, What has you so rattled? For a guy who has two favourable opinion polls under his belt, you sure are acting strangely. Surely you don't view ten...
• Praying For A Harper-Brown Bilateral! We get it. Gordon Brown is a bit tiffed at Stephen Harper. (And I thought Brown already had his hands full, "domestica...
• Larry, He'll be back soon enough. Just call him Mr. Eleven.
• Definitely Mr.
• Syld, Defending the strategic delay in releasing the platform is one thing. Defending the non-release quite another. (I know you're not advocating the latte...
• Katrina, If only Informed1 hadn't been suspended...it was working in our favour. By the end of the night, you and I would have had plenty of company as ex-T...
• Katrina, You have a bright future, strategically speaking. You're already an out-of-the-box thinker. Hope you will be blazing your own trail soon, political...
• Katrina, Others had them but most of those posters got suspended!
• Westerner, MRM, Just in case Informed1 doesn't make it back, I hope one of you guys will be back to spar with us Liberals. You know, it won't be quite the s...
• Sorry Hollinm. I forgot about you. My apologies.
• Arthur C of Calgary, I can't help but wonder what possessed him to take Communion. It seems to me it would have been wiser not to participate rather than ...
• Katrina, No wonder the Prime Minister has long days. This goes to the calibre of staff that surrounds him in the PMO. I honestly don't think HE would have...
• Katrina, Dimitri's job is one of the most tightly scripted. That suggests he had to check upstairs...I would look higher up for the person who sounded off...
• G8 Regret. I can't help but feel that the G8 leaders will leave L'Aquila, Italy with at least one regret: too bad Hans-Rudolf Merz, President of the Swiss C...
• Syld, Respectfully, no one is interested in showcasing the past record of Liberal governments. What we want and need is for Michael and his team to establis...
• Dimitri Soudas. This hasn't exactly been one of the best weeks for Dimitri Soudas, the Prime Minister's Press Secretary. No need to go into it all over agai...
• Angus Reid: Conservatives Hold Six Point Lead. An Angus Reid Strategies poll shows the Conservatives ahead of the Liberals with 36% support. Liberals have f...